THE passages in the Epistles to the Corinthians which treat of peace are chiefly of a practical nature. How a sinner may have peace before God we have previously briefly referred to, but none the less important is it for such as love the Lord, to seek wisdom from Him as to the great question of peace in daily life. We are creatures of extremes—some make everything of the last, and exclude the first principles of peace with God; others seem content with the assurance that they have peace with God, and are indifferent as to peace in daily life.
“God hath called us in (or to) peace” says the Scripture (1 Cor. 7:1515But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. (1 Corinthians 7:15)), and a great calling is this for us who live in a troublous world. Home-life is the burden of the context―the Christian in a heathen home; but there God would have peace. It must be an awful break when an idolator becomes a Christian, and the wife remains an idolator, but the burden of maintaining peace is to be borne by the Christian. Idols never give peace, nor do their worshippers obtain peace. God would have His children, even in life’s most trying incidents, manifest that He has called us in peace. Let not the unconverted relation have to complain of any of us that we cause him anger by our unyieldingness. It is for the Christian, who possesses all things, to give way.
And what God would have evident in the homes of His people, He would also have manifest in their religious services; “He is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” (ch. 14:33.) His perfect rule constrains to peace, and where the contrary is, His rule is surely disobeyed.
Further, what God had ordered for us in families and churches He would also have regulating our general behavior. We cannot forget that the Corinthians were not kindly disposed one towards another. Christ had not His great place in their hearts―this, alas! their favorite teachers possessed―hence their contentions. Now the apostle Paul would send Timothy to them, whose gentle spirit they could easily wound, and whom, maybe, they might intimidate. Now he was a worker for the Lord together with the apostle, and the word to the Corinthians about him was, “See that he may be with you without fear.” Again, as such as elevate one servant are apt to despise others, the word was, “Let no man despise him.” We need stir up our hearts to consider these things.
Now, turning to the end of the next Epistle, and remembering the happy fruit the first had produced in the Corinthians, we read, “Live in peace (or peaceably), and the God of love and peace shall be with you.” (ch. 13:11) These four things, be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, are such as we may all prayerfully emulate. Let our Christian ambition exercise itself in such directions as these, and God Himself shall be with us. Yes, He who is the God of love and of peace! This is one of God’s most beautiful names. Sometimes, because of our evil ways, we find God with us in righteousness, or in judgment. The sharpness the apostle used was to lead the Corinthians to a godly state of soul, that, judging themselves and abandoning their evil ways, they might once more be in such a moral state before God that He might be with them. Let us above all things seek so to conduct ourselves one towards another that nothing in us shall hinder our holy God, who is the God of love and peace, being with us.