“If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18 AMP).
The Word of God makes it very clear how we are to treat other people. The measure of how much you have allowed the Word of God to get inside of you and then allow the Spirit of God to transform you is in how you treat other people.
When you see the best in others, that is the best in you. “Treat other people as you would like them to treat you” (Luke 6:31 CJB).
Some of the meanest people on this earth that I know claim to be Christians. They may be saved for an eternity, but they are a terrible example of what God wants them to be. They have roots of bitterness that burrow deeply, and the lack of fruit in their lives proves it.
The measure of your faith is how you treat others who mistreat you. Jesus taught, “But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44 AMP).
But what about you? The Lord always does this, taking every accusation that you may say about someone else and turning His mirror of revelation so that you can see yourself as you really are. Nothing reflects who you are more than how you treat those around you.
The proof of our faith is revealed in how we treat those around us. Jesus taught, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35 NLT).
There will be many people in our lives who will choose to be against us no matter what we do. Not only do they not want to be at peace with us, but they want to war against us with words and actions that are only meant to hurt us. God only expects you to do your part.
Don’t focus on how others treat you but how you treat others. “For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Galatians 5:14 NLT).
The phrase from Scripture, “as far as it depends on you,” is God Himself pointing His finger directly at you as if to say, “Worry about yourself, and I will deal with everyone else.” God will never judge us based on how others treat us but on how we treat them.
When others treat you badly, learn from it so that you will not do the same. “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18 AMP).
The words we speak either lessen the flame of anger in others, or it stokes that flame into something much more extreme. Our words flow from our hearts, so to change what we say, we must change how we feel. So long as our anger rages, then we will incite anger in others.
How you treat others will impact how God treats you. “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t snap back at those who say unkind things about you. Instead, pray for God’s help for them, for we are to be kind to others, and God will bless us for it” (1 Peter 3:9 TLB).
When we choose to be at peace with others, there will be many who do not want the peace that we desire. Seek to be at peace with them anyway, for when you do so, you will be at peace with God and within your own heart. What we pour out is what we are filled with.
Treat people better than they deserve because that is how God treats you. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV).
We are called to love our enemies, but that doesn’t mean that we must live with them. Sometimes, the best way to find peace is to go to where it can be found. If you set up your tent in the camp of trouble, then that will be what you wake up to every day.
Sometimes, the best way to keep the peace is to keep your distance. “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18 AMP).
Our vision is wildly better in seeing the faults in others rather than the faults in ourselves. God doesn’t need your help judging others, but you need His help to see the faults that you have. Step down from the altar of self and let God show you who you really are.
If only we were as sensitive to how we treat others as we are to how they treat us. Jesus taught, “In everything you do, be careful to treat others in the same way you’d want them to treat you, for that is the essence of all the teachings of the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12 TPT).
If you want your faith to grow, then you must learn to treat other people better. The measure of Christ in you is Christ through you. The more grace you show, the more of His grace is in you. It is an inescapable truth that if Jesus reigns in you, you will act more like Him.
If the way you treat others depends upon how they treat you, then the Lord Jesus does not yet reign fully in you. The Lord Jesus taught, “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them” (Luke 6:32 NKJV).
To have a friend, be a friend. To get mercy, show mercy. To have love, be loving. When you hold onto Christ, it is Christ that is holding onto you. God can change you if you let Him, and He can make you into the sweetest of saints when, finally, you are ready.
The Lord does not measure you by your knowledge of doctrine but by how you live it. “…walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness…” (Ephesians 4:1-2 NKJV ).
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius
Thank you Paul, these words of wisdom could not have come at a better time for me.
It was timely for me as well. We need to be reminded of how much the Lord wants us to treat others better than we do.
Excellent exhortation; so Christocentric. Thank you very much, my grandly gifted brother in our Beloved. The loving Trinity of living infinity be glorified in and through you and us, ever the more.
Thank you, Brother!
Excellent…so many examples of the way I am to live this life. Missing the mark is not optional…
It’s a command…needing God’s love & direction every moment of every day. And, His forgiveness, when I fail.
This blog was especially hard on me as I long to live a higher life, but can get pulled into the mud just like anyone else. It takes the God who created me to change me!