The way that leads to peace

"When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him."- Proverbs 16:7, nkjv

One of the church fathers, Clement of Alexandria, used an interesting expression. He wrote of "the way of peace" or "the path that leads to peace." Though the expression isn’t found in the Bible, there are literally hundreds of expressions in the Scriptures that tell us it is God’s intention for us to live in peace.

Would you personally like to make peace with someone? With a husband, an aged father, a co-worker who mistreated you? For years you have lived with the thought of revenge, but now you are not so sure that all the hostility, the loneliness, and the pain are worth it. Besides, you have a nagging feeling that tells you that not only was the other person wrong, but that you also are wrong.

What is the way that leads to peace? If peace is your goal, here are four steps, or guidelines, which you must pursue:

Guideline #1. The way that leads to peace is marked by the commitment of two parties who want peace. There are three things that you cannot do: climb a fence that leans towards you; kiss a girl who pulls away from you, and make peace with someone who refuses to come to the table and talk. That’s why Paul wrote, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18).

Ramsey MacDonald was the prime minister of England when a discussion about peace took place with a fellow government official who thought that MacDonald was idealistic and unreal. MacDonald argued for peace while the official who was a specialist on foreign affairs was unimpressed. "The desire for peace does not necessarily ensure it," said the antagonist. "Quite true," countered MacDonald, quickly adding, "but neither does the desire for food satisfy your hunger, but at least it gets you started toward a restaurant."

Guideline #2. The way that leads to peace is marked by the willingness of two individuals to give up their anger and negotiate. Frankly, there are some who enjoy being angry. It gives them reason to justify their baseness and rottenness. Besides, they find it much easier to sling mud, or stones, or bullets than to admit that they, too, might have been wrong. At some point, the way that leads to peace demands you forget about the issue of who was right and who was wrong. You must consider the benefits of peace to be more worthwhile than the perverse satisfaction of having some justification for your anger.

Guideline #3. The way that leads to peace is marked by the refusal to continue the battle. It’s difficult to have a war when nobody wants to fight. There’s an old story, well documented by a variety of sources, which illustrates the point. On Christmas Eve in the year 1914, German and British soldiers were in the trenches facing each other. Since this was the first Christmas Eve of the war, neither side was sure if they would fight on Christmas or desist for the day. Finally, British soldiers raised signs in German: "Merry Christmas." Then carols were sung on both sides. Eventually soldiers met in a kind of no-man’s land and exchanged candy and cigarettes. Not until reinforcements were sent in, who had not witnessed that event, did fighting begin anew.

Guideline #4. The path to peace is marked by goodwill. The path may not be terribly well worn, but wise are those who travel it. - Resource reading: Isaiah 26:1-5

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Guidelines for Finding Your Way is available in bookstores nationwide. For more information, write to Guidelines Philippines, Box 4000, 1284 Makati City or e-mail [email protected]. Visit our website www.guidelines.org.