I recall as a child watching a war documentary and shuddering as the camera zoomed in on photographs of twisted and mutilated dead bodies. Other pictures showed bombed-out cities; skeletons of their former glory. War photography can help the world feel the cost of conflict. The cost of interpersonal conflict can't always be captured in pictures. But it is no less real; broken friendships, lost trust, church splits, hurt feelings, divorce. People war against each other through false assumptions, slander, gossip, and a resolve to win at any cost. When we lose we recoil in bitterness.
God's remedy to the relational wars of this world is to create a new, peace-loving humanity. In a world at war Christians will make peace (Matt. 5:9). In Romans 12 Paul transitions from proclaiming the gospel to applying what effects the gospel will have in the world. Instead of being "conformed to this world" (2) believers will practice humility (3), love (9), patience (12), generosity (13), long-suffering (17)—all of which make for peace and harmony (18, 16). Peacemaking is one of the most obvious way believers can distinguish themselves from unbelievers.
Jesus invites us to promote peace in a world of war. How do we live a life of grace by bringing to our relationships a taste of the peace God has made with us?
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