Seek Peace and Pursue It

1 Peter 3:8-12 

8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For
“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Submitting to each other and laboring together leads to knitting together of hearts and minds, so that we think of the things prepared for us in Christ and love each other as we love Him first.  Practically, this shows as courtesy, brotherly love, real care and concern, and a lack of retribution in any form.  We should not be giving back what others give us which hurts or offends, nor should we talk bad about others because they hurt us.  No, we are called to bless our enemies and all who seem to be against us instead.  Psalm 34:12-16 quoted here talks of God’s blessing to those who seek to do what is right and not the wrong; it shows that we must be actively seeking peace, running after it.  We know He watches and hears us as we now imitate Christ who lived this out for us to see, and also know our continued disobedience makes our prayers of no effect.  Our hearts should be as Psalm 34:18 says further down in the passage quoted here, that “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”  Are our hearts broken by sin and pursuing peace with others as we have been given peace with God in Christ (Romans 5:1, 2 Corinthians 13:11)?