day no. 14,615: peaceably with enmity

Psalm 140
Some people refuse to be at peace. They are hell bent on looking for ways to instigate. They seek out tension and create it when there is none. 

In Romans 12:18 we are commanded, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." There are two assumptions behind this command. There is a role in peacemaking we can play AND we must assume that some will respond to our meekness with malice.

With respect to the first assumption, Proverbs 15:1 states, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." We can only do what we can do, but we must do what only we can do. You can't force someone to be at peace with you, but you can promote peace in the way you proactively engage others and in the way you reactively respond to others. That is your part and God is clear that you should strive to live peaceably.

But some refuse to live peaceably as our second assumption already noted. You must not be naïve. There are those who are pursuing war. They want strife. They desire conflict. They won't be happy until you are fighting. So do not be shocked when they attack you. Do not be surprised when they try to trip you up. Do be caught off guard by the malice they throw at your meekness.

The seed of the serpent and the seed of Eve have enmity placed between them by God. There should be adversity. For the only scenario where no turmoil exists is one where no seed of Eve remains. As long as there are seeds of Eve alive, the seeds of the serpent will plot against them. There is NO scenario where the seeds of the serpent stop fighting. So there should exist no scenario where the seeds of Eve are unprepared for battle.

The Day is coming when the enmity will forever cease, but it is at the return of the great High King who deals the death blow to the seed of the serpent. Only then will enmity be thrown into the lake of fire forever. Until then, we do our best to live in peace, which means being prepared for war.

"To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace." - George Washington