help us to do what Jesus said when closing his discussion with his twelve apostles: “Keep peace between one another.” (Mark 9:50) Our being tactful, considerate, wholesome and pacifying in utterance and conduct will certainly promote peaceful relationships with one another as Christ’s disciples. It will make evident that God’s spirit is within us, for “the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace.” (Gal. 5:22) Also, “the wisdom from above is first of all chaste, then peaceable.” (Jas. 3:17) So it displays a high degree of wisdom when we obey Jesus’ admonition about peace. It is a mark of true Christian discipleship in the midst of a competitive, disunited, disintegrating world. It holds us together as God’s organized people under Christ.

Is Yours a Living Faith?

MOST desirable is the godly quality of faith. (John 3:16; 2 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 10:38) But faith involves much more than simple belief. “Do you care to know, O empty man,” asks Bible writer James, “that faith apart from works is inactive?” (Jas. 2:20) He adds: “Indeed, as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” (Jas. 2:26) A Christian’s faith cannot be static, but as vegetation that beautifies the land, faith must remain alive and continue to grow.​—2 Thess. 1:3.

A valuable lesson in this regard can be learned from the way ancient Israel responded when God promised to give them the land of Canaan. God assured the Israelites of his superhuman backing, saying:

“Here I am sending an angel ahead of you to keep you on the road and to bring you into the place that I have prepared. Watch yourself because of him and obey his voice. Do not behave rebelliously against him, for he will not pardon your transgression; because my name is within him. However, if you strictly obey his voice and really do all that I shall speak, then I shall certainly be hostile to your enemies and harass those who harass you.”​—Ex. 23:20-22.

Israel was under obligation to work along with God in exterminating the Canaanites. God commanded: “You should without fail devote them to destruction. You must conclude no covenant with them nor show them any favor. And you must form no marriage alliance with them.”​—Deut. 7:2, 3.

After Israel entered the Promised Land and set up camp at Gilgal, to the east of Jericho, an angel, who identified himself