Cultivate Peace
Cultivating peace with godliness requires genuine devotion and a heart that seeks God, not just going through the motions.
Clement of Rome emphasizes the importance of genuine godliness and peace, warning against hypocritical behavior where outward expressions do not align with the heart. He quotes Scriptures that reveal the danger of insincere worship and the consequences of deceitful lips and boastful tongues. Clement highlights God's promise to arise for the oppressed and needy, ensuring their safety and confident care.
Text
Let us cleave, therefore, to those who cultivate peace with godliness, and not to those who hypocritically profess to desire it. For [the Scripture] says in a certain place, "This people honours Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." And again: "They bless with their mouth, but curse with their heart." And again it says, "They loved Him with their mouth, and lied to Him with their tongue; but their heart was not right with Him, neither were they faithful in His covenant."
"Let the deceitful lips become silent," [and "let the Lord destroy all the lying lips,] and the boastful tongue of those who have said, Let us magnify our tongue; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?
For the oppression of the poor, and for the sighing of the needy, will I now arise, says the Lord: I will place him in safety; I will deal confidently with him."
Sermon Outline
- Cultivating Peace with Godliness
- The Dangers of Deceitful Lips
- God's Justice for the Oppressed
- God will arise for the poor and needy
- God will place them in safety
Key Quotes
“Let the deceitful lips become silent,” — Clement of Rome
Application Points
- Reflect on your own heart and actions to ensure you are genuinely seeking God and not just pretending.
- Be mindful of how your words and actions affect others, and seek to bring justice and peace to those around you.
- Trust in God's justice and know that He will arise for the poor and needy.