“Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace…” (2 Timothy 2:22)
The Bible contains a second letter of the apostle Paul to Timothy, and this letter also lists some virtues Timothy is to pursue. Not surprisingly, the lists overlap. But there is one “life goal” that Paul did not mention in his first letter (at least not in the list we studied). This is peace.
Naturally, people are at war with God since they don’t want to obey Him. Ever since the first human couple fell into sin, our hearts are in rebellion against our Creator. Only God’s love can cure our hearts, forgive our sins, and create peace. That was the goal of Jesus’ salvation work. He is our Prince of Peace.
Being at peace with God implies being at war with his enemy, Satan. But this is only temporary. At the end of time, the God of peace will crush Satan under our feet (Romans 16:20). Then peace will be complete.
Until then, we are called to pursue peace and to live in peace with people around us in so far as it depends on us — which of course is greatly helped by the other virtues of gentleness, love and righteousness.
Do you live at peace with God and people around you?
