新約研究學者貝里（Kenneth E. Bailey）提到有一個非洲國家的領導人，知道如何在國際社會中保持一種不尋常的姿態。他與以色列及其周邊國家都建立了良好的關係。有人問他如何讓他的國家在國際社會保持這種微妙的平衡，他回答說：「我們選擇我們的朋友，而且不鼓勵我們的朋友為我們選擇敵人。」

這是有智慧且切合實際的外交政策。這個非洲國家領袖在國際事務上樹立的模範，正是保羅勸勉每一位讀者在個人層面上應當要做的事。在保羅描述被基督改變的生命特質的長篇論述中，他寫道：「若是能行，總要盡力與眾人和睦」（羅馬書12章18節）。他繼續強調我們與他人相處的重要性，提醒我們對待敵人的方式（20-21節），正反映了我們對上帝的信任和倚靠，知道祂會全然眷顧我們。

我們並不一定能與每個人和平相處（畢竟，保羅是說「若是能行」）。但身為基督徒，我們所當做的是讓上帝的智慧引導我們的生活（雅各書3章17-18節），好讓我們能與周圍的人和平共處並且使人和睦（馬太福音5章9節）。這難道不是我們尊榮這位和平之君最好的方式嗎？

Scholar Kenneth E. Bailey told of the leader of an African nation who’d learned to maintain an unusual posture in the international community. He’d established a good relationship with both Israel and the nations surrounding it. When someone asked him how his nation maintained this fragile balance, he responded, “We choose our friends. We do not encourage our friends to choose our enemies [for us].”   

That is wise—and genuinely practical. What that African country modeled on an international level is what Paul encouraged his readers to do on a personal level. In the midst of a lengthy description of the characteristics of a life changed by Christ, he wrote, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). He goes on to reinforce the importance of our dealings with others by reminding us that even the way we treat our enemies (vv. 20–21) reflects our trust in and dependence upon God and His ultimate care.  

To live in peace with everyone may not always be possible (after all, Paul does say “if”). But our responsibility as believers in Jesus is to allow His wisdom to guide our living (James 3:17–18) so that we engage those around us as peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). What better way could there be to honor the Prince of Peace?