Peace with Family
December 6, 2020
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| “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:17-18 Families can certainly be full of interesting characters. It’s funny how we can share blood with people yet be completely different in so many ways. Christmas is certainly a time where all those differences can come to the forefront and make for a stressful time. Especially this year, when we’re all on edge facing a global pandemic, unprecedented in our lifetimes, tensions are high, we aren’t able to celebrate the way we’re used to, and there’s ample opportunity for us to rub each other the wrong way and have some arguments erupt. Scripture gives us some insight into how we might pursue peace with our families this Christmas. These verses in James are so helpful. They give us a pretty clear blueprint of what it looks like to “make peace”. Pure. Are we honest and holy in our speech and in our actions with our family? Do I seek my own will and make snide remarks about the food that I don’t like or the politics I wish my family shared? Is my chief desire to be together with my family and love them or is there something hindering that? Peaceable. Do I want to prove my point or do I want to build my relationships? I don’t have to hide my true feelings but I certainly don’t have to ram my views down someone’s throat. Do I desire to be at peace with my family more than I desire for them to admit their wrong doings or agree with my views? Gentle. I am so terrible at hiding my true feelings at first when I could share a gentle concern I may have, and then it builds up and I lose my temper at a completely inappropriate time in a ridiculous way that is blown way out of proportion. We can be honest and gentle when we are hurt or offended and not let that build up to a point where we get into a huge argument and say hurtful things. Open to reason. I honestly think this is one of the biggest problems with our current affairs. I get on social media and see how we have no interest in reason at all. We have our opinions and our politics and if someone disagrees with us we get angry and defensive before we listen. Christians should be reasonable! “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord” (Isaiah 1:18). We don’t need to get defensive as Christians, we can face any question or any opposition to our faith. We do not stand on a house of cards but in a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Full of Mercy and Good Fruit. Christians should be the best forgivers. He who has been forgiven much, loves much. “But he who is forgiven little loves little.” (Luke 7:47) It is a good idea to reflect on our many faults and failings that the Lord has forgiven us before we get together with people who we may want to judge. Mercy should be our inclination, grace should be our countenance. The good fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, kindness and self-control should pour out of us as we interact with our family. That is the gift and the work of the Holy Spirit within us. Impartial and Sincere. If I’m honest, I have favorites at family gatherings. I’d rather sit with and talk with certain people and others are harder to relate to and converse with. God calls me to love everyone in the room equally, to not play favorites, to not be fake and insincere, but to have genuine care and concern for all my family and to make time to talk to and love them all. Whether your Christmas celebration this year will be in person or via video-conference call, God gives us great advice on how we can have peace with our families and share His grace and love with them by how we act when we’re around them. Lots of convicting things for me in these verses that I will be working on myself. |
