"Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.”
As I read this today it made me think about the importance of unity and love. It says "work at" living in peace with everyone. So it will take us learning and growing to understand that we are a new creation in Christ and we can develop and be peaceful. Then it says, "work at" living a holy life. As new creations we should continue to grow cutting away our old ways and living like Christ did.
See, if we don't "work at" changing and being Christ-like or a Christian, then there is no purpose for us saying we are. Our words mean nothing without our action. Ever since accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior in 2005 this verse in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 26 always stood out to me, “Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.” We need to "work at" surrendering and truly understanding what the blood of Jesus has done for us. "Work at" doesn't mean perfection, it means we are aware of the changes needed and are making a choice to change. This happens by confessing with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved. Look at what it says in Romans chapter 10 verse 9, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
When we believe something it should drive us to seek it and be like it. I love what Paul shares in Philippians chapter 4 verse 13, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” This doesn't mean lift a house or that we are bullet proof, it means through Christ we can "work at" living at peace with everyone and "work at" living a holy life. WLM, BLM, YLM, BrLM, all lives matter, to have to express one more than another does not help us "work at" peace with everyone. God has no favorites so we need to stop putting a label on everything that happens with a color first. LIVES MATTER, should be our biggest concern, and knowing Jesus as our Lord and Savior should be our biggest desire. AMEN