“Pursue peace with all men.” Hebrews 12:14

In our society peace comes with conditions, a price to be paid. Perhaps the greatest price paid is when we pursue peace without conditions. Without expecting anything in return. There is a reason Jesus said in Matthew 5:9,

“Blessed Are The Peace Makers

For They Shall Be Called Children Of God”

Peacemaking is not easy, but rather one of the hardest things in life. Most of the time peacemaking requires forgiveness on our part, especially when justice or revenge is our natural reaction. Perhaps that’s why Jesus so prominently mentions forgiveness in the Lords prayer by asking us to “forgive those who have sinned against us”. Peter once asked Jesus, “how many times do I forgive my brother when he sins against me?” Jesus answered, “70 times 7”. That’s a lot of forgiveness my friends, but many times that’s the price of peace.