But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate…  James 3:16-17

To fully grasp the concept of being “peace-loving” and “considerate,” it helps to think about the two visible aspects of the cross—a vertical piece, as well as a horizontal piece.  Once we surrender our life to Christ and place our faith in Him, we secure a vertical relationship with God. And because that vertical relationship has been established, we now have the ability and desire to work on our horizontal relationships—those relationships with the people around us. It is because of what Jesus has done in our life that enables us to reach out to others in peace and be considerate of their needs.  To get the most out of this life and the relationships we have, we need to recognize the fact that we are called to be peace-loving and considerate to those around us. So as you go through each day, ask Him to help you keep peace and to be considerate of the needs of the people you come in contact with every day.

Dear God, Thank you for sending Christ to earth to establish a relationship with me. I know that because my relationship with You has been secured, I have the ability to work on my relationships with others in my life. Help me today to be considerate and to find ways to bring peace to the people around me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.