Reverence denotes giving respect and honour. The scripture demonstrates this truth when men bow before a person of high office reflecting their reverence for the office. The Bible marks this bowing down out of respect as an act of reverence (2 Samuel 9:6; 1 Kings 1:31). God's word marks the refusal to bow as showing disrespect and a lack of reverence (Esther 3:2, 5). Every Christian should consistently demonstrate an adequate understanding of biblical reverence. Why? There is only one way to serve God acceptably: with “reverence and godly fear.” Today's verse teaches that reverence entails some relationship to fear, though reverence is not fear. Since men cannot serve God “acceptably” without reverence, living reverently toward God remains an essential element for a healthy Christian life.
Though peace may seem illusive, God instructs all believers to pursue after it. True inner peace is not something that one can afford to live without. The Bible says, “seek peace, and pursue it.” Peter reiterates this truth by saying, “seek peace, and ensue it” (1 Peter 3:11). Men should seek after peace; and when found, they should allow nothing to prevent them from fully seizing upon it. The Lord said, “therefore love the truth and peace” (Zechariah 8:19). Several New Testament verses repeat the importance of peace by admonishing the believer to follow after it (Romans 14:19; 2 Timothy 2:22; Hebrews 12:14). God certainly wants us to seek peace (1 Corinthians 7:15) and makes peace attainable. Yet, He demands that we pursue after His peace His way because any other peace is really no peace at all.
