How can a home bring peace to a neighborhood?
Part 3. Building relationships in the neighborhood
“He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were His enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, he has brought you into His presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.” Colossians 1:19-22
“For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in Himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of His death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from Him, and peace to the Jews who were near.” Ephesians 2:14-17
There should be no barrier to great for us to break through so that we may bring peace. Not race, gender, age, etc.
We are all created equal, in God’s image, and our Creator wants us to love each other in this way. It is my mission. It is your mission. It is our mission as a church family.
In this room, we may feel safe with each other and this is good. It makes it easier for us to build relationships with each other. God’s heart is leading us to ask, “What happens when we go home?”
“I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” 1 Corinthians 9:22-23
We must have a deep commitment to listening even when it’s hard. Listening with an intent to understand. What is the question underneath their question? What have they experienced? Where are they hurting?
Love by listening, learning, praying for, being available to, enjoying life with, speaking encouragement to, and bringing into next steps in following Jesus.