Prioritize peace
The 4th Sunday in Eastertide
Abner called out to Joab, “Are we going to keep killing each other till doomsday? Don’t you know that nothing but bitterness will come from this? ~ 2 Samuel 2:26 (MSG)
God chose you and wants you to live at peace. ~ 1 Corinthians 7:15 (CEV)
SUMMARY SENTENCE:
God has called us to prioritize peace.
PRAYER:
You know, O Lord, the recipe of the world. Those who live by the sword die by the sword. Too often my words are sharp and defensive. Help me to lay down my verbal weapons and take up the instrument of peace. Grant me patience, a double dose of humility, and a cup running over with grace. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
