How seamlessly do you adjust to new seasons? Do you enjoy your current family rhythm in this season? Is there anything you wish you could add or subtract from your schedule to create more ideal days?
This conversation came up because I have camped out in Romans 14 this week and It. Is. So. Good!!!
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Romans 14:9 (NIV)
As soon as I read this, my instant question was “what leads to peace and to mutual edification?” If I am supposed to make every effort to do that, then I want to learn how to strategically apply this to my own life.
When I want to understand the original language of the Bible better, I turn to Blueletterbible.org. Here is what I discovered: Mutual edification is being in a reciprocal relationship where we pursue God’s gift of wholeness together.
So, my strategy includes four parts: peace, mutual edification, spiritual growth, and wholeness.
First, what practices lead to peace that I can do individually and with others that also produce spiritual growth in our lives? Once we have a starting list for that question, we can then unpack what is included in wholeness. Throughout the process, we are aiming to learn how we can realistically make every effort to pursue all of these things.
What are some examples of things which make for peace, build each other up reciprocally AND lead to spiritual growth?
I took a few minutes to journal my responses to this question, and this is the list I came up with:
Living intentionally to pursue purposeful priorities and convictions God has placed on my heart
Sharing a meal and conversation (cultivating a heart for hospitality)
Taking turns asking questions and responding with active listening
Using my spiritual gifts (If you haven’t already read X: Multiply Your God-Given Potential by John Bevere, I recommend it!)
Offering all five of Dr. Gary Chapman’s Love Languages: Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Gifts, Acts of Service, and Quality Time (if this concept is new to you, listen to the Five Love Languages Episode)
Praying for each other
Leaning into Gary Thomas’s Nine Sacred Pathways (He teaches this concept in Nine Ways to Connect with God)
Maximizing Andy Stanley’s list of Five Things God Uses To Grow Your Faith: practical teaching, providential relationships, private disciplines, personal ministry, and pivotal circumstances. For instance, we can’t pursue pivotal circumstances, but when we are connected and involved in a reciprocal relationship, we have the opportunity to be present, supportive, or celebratory during pivotal changes in other’s lives and hopefully they will be in ours as well.
Now we have a starting place for strategically pursuing peaceful spiritual growth with others. Next, we are exhorted to pursue wholeness together and to do it often.
So, what is wholeness and how do we pursue it together to enjoy a peaceful life?
I will share my responses to these questions, but I am even more excited to hear yours!
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Let’s circle back to our foundational verse for today. I like to look across various translations for a broader understanding of the Truth communicated in Scripture. The Amplified version of the Bible says Romans 14:9 this way:
“So then, let us pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth].”
Romans 14:9 (AMP)
Your enthusiastic commitment to pursue things today, which make for peace and build up one another, will make an eternal impact on yourself and generations to come as it leads to spiritual growth. Amen!
May you experience God’s peace today and always!
Sincerely,
Laura
