WEDNESDAY IN THE WORD    July 12, 2023

“CHANGE AGENTS FOR PEACE AND GOODNESS”

“Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace to maintain it.”

PSALM 34:12-14 NLT

As you look around in your part of the world, how much good and peace do you find there? Admittedly, as we continue to live in these trying times, it’s not easy to identify real peace that creates a sense of God’s goodness. Everything and everyone is wound so tightly and stressed out, that we often fail to see the positive part we play in the peaceful goodness that we are all seeking.

I would like to remind you that God has created us to be the “Change Agents” for the gifts of peace and goodness that he has promised to give us. The scripture passage of Psalm 34:12-14. offers us some directions to follow if we wish to obtain peace and goodness. But, if we look at the entire 34th chapter of this Psalm, David outlines all of God’s promises for those who will trust and obey him. God offers us great blessings. He said that he will set us free from fear, deliver us from shame, guard and defend us. Who can forget what verse 8 has to say, “O taste and see that Lord is good?” He shows us his goodness, supplys what we need, listens when we talk and pray to him, and redeems us; except these promises are conditional. You see we must do our part if we expect to enjoy them.

We can claim his blessings when we trust Him, call out to Him, take refuge in Him, and reverence Him. But, we must also refrain from lying, turn from any evil and do good by seeking peace, with a humble and contrite spirit as we look for ways to serve him. In verses 12-14, we garner information we need to become Agents of Change, that’s necessary to bring about peace and goodness in the world. Neither peace nor goodness comes about without a concerted effort. David said that we should work hard to pursue it. According to Paul, Romans 12:17-18 echoes Psalm 34:12-14 which says, “Never pay back evil for evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see that you are honorable. Do all you can to live in peace with everyone.” Therefore, a person seeking peace cannot be argumentative or contentious because peaceful relationships comes from our intentional efforts at peacemaking, which is at the intersection where goodness is found.

We are called the Agents of Change that God is looking for in times like these. So, if you want to know if you are a peacemaker who is striving for God’s goodness, check yourself by the list of do’s and dont’s found in these short verses of scripture. Then go out and change the world for goodness sake! Amen.

Rev. Andie