Sunday 16th November
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14
There are moments in life when peace feels out of reach, when misunderstandings, hurt, or pride seem to build walls between us and others. Yet the Scripture calls us not to wait for peace to find us, but to pursue it. Hebrews reminds us:“ Strive for peace with all and strive to be holy.4 without holiness, no one will see the Lord.” To live in peace requires humility, forgiveness, and grace. When we hold on to resentment or pride, “roots of bitterness” can take hold, poisoning our relationships and our own hearts. Forgiveness, then, becomes an act of both peace and holiness. It’s not merely excusing wrongs, but releasing our hearts from the power of anger. As we forgive, we make space for God’s grace to flow through us.
The warning about Esau teaches us not to trade what is eternal — peace with God and others — for momentary satisfaction or pride. Holiness means valuing what lasts: love, mercy, and reconciliation. Let us pray for the grace to forgive and release those who have wronged us, and let God’s peace dwell in my heart.