quiet lives

What’s your ambition? A house at the lake? An executive position with your company? To get that blue check mark on Twitter, to be somebody everyone knows about?

Or is it to live out your life quietly and peacefully, in a way that pleases God?

Not many of us come up with the last answer, but it’s the one Paul encourages us to make. Look at this, from 1 Timothy 2:1-4: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

I notice in this passage a couple of things.

First, the way to this quiet life is by being peaceful, which suggest we should be peacemakers. I heard a sermon yesterday about that, and the preacher noted that peace-making takes action. He pointed out that it starts with negotiating a cease fire, which can be nurtured into a fragile peace that, with time, could mature into a cooperative relationship.

How can we do that? Through prayer. By making petitions and intercession for everyone – perceived enemies included – we can make progress where it seems impossible. By giving thanksgiving for everyone, including those leaders we think are wrong, we create the conditions in our own minds for peace. 

What we recognize in this kind of prayer is that the real enemy, Satan, sets us to fighting each other. One of us is wrong, possibly us, and Satan has that party convinced of their rightness. Peace is the last thing he wants, so he goads us. After all, Paul notes, God wants all people to be saved, even the ones we’re at war with.

Make it your ambition to live a quiet life, making and mending the peace through constant prayer and consistent effort. This is good, and pleases God our Savior. And it seems a worthy way this Memorial Day to honor those who died to give us the chance.