KEEPING THE PEACE IN LIFE

KEEPING THE PEACE IN LIFE We LIVE in a world Where everyone gets OFFENDED So easily We live in a world Where everyone wants you To be politically correct EVERYONE is so so SENSITIVE But Jesus tells us Go with the tide KEEP THE PEACE Don't offend others “But that we may NOT offend them ….....” Matthew 17:27 We live in a violent world Where everyone is TAKING EXCEPTION To someone over something KEEP the peace WHEN YOU CAN In chapter 17 of Saint Matthew's gospel After Jesus establishes That they don't need To pay the temple tax He tells his disciples to PAY it anyway “Then the children are exempt,' Jesus said to Peter 'But so that we may NOT cause offense Go to the lake And throw out your line Take the first fish you catch Open its mouth And you will find a four-drachma coin Take it and give it to them For my tax and yours'” Matthew 17:26-27 What a WONDERFUL world This would be-IF- More people expressed Jesus' attitude And wanted to LIVE IN PEACE Maybe the evening news headlines Wouldn't always be about mass shootings- Murders-robberies-child abuse- Lying-stealing-etc., etc., etc. Live with righteousness KEEP the peace in life “Turn from evil-and DO GOOD Seek PEACE-and pursue it” Psalm 34:14 “A heart at peace Gives life To the body But envy-rots the bones” Proverbs 14:30 “I have told you These things-so that in me- You may have PEACE In this world You will have trouble But take HEART I have OVERCOME the world” John 16:33 Keeping the peace Just as Jesus said- And I BELIEVE You will have a long and happy life I know I have DESPITE the deck being stacked Against me Jesus teaches us NOT to seek conflict unnecessarily “But I tell you Do not resist an evil person If anyone slaps you On the right cheek- TURN to them the other cheek also And if anyone wants to sue you- And take your shirt HAND OVER your coat as well IF anyone forces you To go one mile- GO with them two miles GIVE to the one who asks you And do NOT turn away From the one Who wants to borrow from you” Matthew 5:39-42 I am NOT telling you To be anyone's patsy BUT I am telling you- Whenever you can-to KEEP THE PEACE IN LIFE And you will have a long and a happy life Robert P. Wallman 8-8-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Phil Fox Rose