Live In Peace
Romans 12:18 (NLT): “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”
Have you been in a church and noticed backbiting strife among the church members? You didn’t say anything, but people are coming to you. Here is the icing on the cake: people approach you by saying, “We need to pray for sister so and so because…” Now they have your curiosity, and you are patiently waiting for the news. Well, you are now participating in gossip. Or what if someone else is sitting in your favorite seat in church? You know there isn’t a sign with your name on it, but you struggle to worship because someone else is sitting in your spot at the end, next to the aisle.
The enemy does everything to cause and maintain hostility and strife in church. Instead of being excited to worship God and see your fellow brother and sister in Christ, you get triggered and mad because someone is sitting in your favorite seat. First, every believer needs to learn not to be easily offended. Second, every believer needs to walk in Love and learn to bear each other’s burdens.
Colossians 3:13 (NLT): “Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
One of the main reasons people leave church is offense. People leave church for many reasons, but getting offended is at the top of the list. Always pray before you decide to leave a church. Ask God if your feelings are sincere. Maybe God wants you to stand up and make things right. What you don’t want to be is a “Church Hopper”. Get offended, then leave for another church. If you leave without God guiding you, anything in the church that YOU don’t like automatically makes you hop to another church. It is better for God to guide you to a church where you can grow than for you to look for a church like a vending machine.
If a person approaches you trying to start gossip about another person, immediately say, “Hey, I really don’t need to know all the details. Let’s stop and pray for that person right now!” Then grab that person’s hand and start praying. Living in peace with others means not harboring or dwelling on offenses, not saying anything bad about another person, and not spreading negative information about them to others. It doesn’t matter whether it’s true. If the information isn’t uplifting or wishing the best for the other person, then you’re using the truth to slander someone. What if you were about to give a speech and the person introducing you shares all the awful things you did in the past? They are all true! But is it necessary? If God can forgive, so can you.
Walk in love for others, then you will walk in peace!
Be Blessed!
Ron
Ron Cobbs Ministries © Copyright October 23rd, 2026, All Rights Reserved