If we want to live in full harmony with our brothers and sisters in the Lord then it is essential that we learn to die to self in every way. It is not easy to live in oneness with others and to steer away from complaining and grudges. We will be blessed if we learn to live in peace until we die, for Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matt. 5:8 (ESV) Even when we have to work through a disagreement we can learn to do it peacefully and “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).
In order to be faithful in this area we should think of ourselves as pilgrims on this earth. We are just traveling through this place so we don’t have to grasp for coming out on top. Honors and status in this life are not important; instead, we strive for the honors God will give us in the New Creation (II Cor. 5:10). We are exiles for a short time here; soon we will travel home. It is just as well to be fools for Christ now.
We should not worry about our external conditions. Instead, we focus on Christformation and putting to death our destructive desires. To live in peace we should learn to be the servant of all.
We are called to endure and to work out our salvation “with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). We are not called to a life of ease and trivialities. We need to develop the new will God gave us when He gave us a new self. Then living in harmony will refine us like gold in a furnace. If we will humble ourselves before others then God will lift us up (I Peter 5:6).
This post is partly based on chapter 17 of the classic The Imitation of Christ.
