Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Matthew 10:34-36 quoting Micah 7:6: Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to "set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." And "a man's foes will be those of his own household."
So which is it, Lord? Do we make peace or not?
Jesus says that "peacemakers" will be called "sons of God." I think this means that the children of God, the followers of Jesus, have a message that sets people at variance, but that their lifestyle is one of making peace with everybody. Look at the verses below:
Proverbs 26: 17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears.
Good, Solomonic advice: stop meddling (you may get bitten).
James 3: 16-18 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil work will be there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Jesus made peace with God through the cross. By extension, we are peacemakers in the world, carrying that cross. We are not out to cause bloody fights, especially with each other. We are at peace: with God, with ourselves, with others.
Hebrews 12: 14 pursue peace with all men, and holiness.
We pursue peace, not strife. We don't enter cultures with intent to bully them into submission to our message. Instead, we demonstrate peace to them ~ what it is to be peaceful. We discard our agendas. We give a back seat to politics and arguments about secondary matters.
Proverbs 13: 10 By pride comes only contention, but with the well-advised is wisdom.
Contention is a product of pride. Good advisors, though, who have wisdom, come in humility. They are not pressing a program of pushing a style, a culture, or a prescribed way of living. They are there to love and to model abundant life. We should enter every situation in life with an intent to make peace. It may not always turn out that way, but that is our mode of operation.
Romans 14: 4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
We do well to realize this, especially among believers. We tend to judge one another and size one another up based on our religious prejudices. But people don't stand because they are like us; they stand because of Him who holds them up.
Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
There are no perfect peacemakers. Some situations make it difficult to nearly impossible. But we are to strive for it. We seek to understand our adversaries, not provoke them. Were we in their shoes, our perspective would change. Peacemakers wear the other man's moccasins (doesn't mean they will fit).
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Lashing out at "sinners" is the last thing we are called to do. Why? Because we are all in the same boat. It is pride that makes us think we are better than others because we may do a few things right. This doesn't mean we are excusing sin. We are actually getting the better of it because we recognize its depths ~ in us. Spiritual people are gentle toward those caught in snares. They don't abandon birds caught in brambles. They don't mash in the thorns.
1Peter 2: 21-23 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth"; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.
God knows whether you are in the right or in the wrong. You don't have to make a big defense and win the argument. Does winning matter more than connecting, sharing, building?
Ephesians 4: 1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Where did the church lose this? Thankfully, many Christians do model these things; but many do not. The church is a unit not an array of camps lobbing grenades at each other. We all belong to one Body, even if we are "members in particular." That body can't function well if it is at internal war.
1John 4: 20 If someone says, ‘I love God,' and hates his brother he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
If we "hate" the believers in Christ, we hate Him. If we belittle them, we belittle Him. Any questions?
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
This is how peacemaking is done. Have you ever heard a couple arguing and the voices get more shrill and the language harsher? Harsh words tend to escalate.
Soft words cool the passion. Take a deep breath. Think about what you're saying. Say it calmly. The debate you're involved in is not the end of the world. Sometimes it's the loser who actually wins.
Matthew 10:34-36 quoting Micah 7:6: Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to "set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." And "a man's foes will be those of his own household."
So which is it, Lord? Do we make peace or not?
Jesus says that "peacemakers" will be called "sons of God." I think this means that the children of God, the followers of Jesus, have a message that sets people at variance, but that their lifestyle is one of making peace with everybody. Look at the verses below:
Proverbs 26: 17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears.
Good, Solomonic advice: stop meddling (you may get bitten).
James 3: 16-18 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil work will be there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Jesus made peace with God through the cross. By extension, we are peacemakers in the world, carrying that cross. We are not out to cause bloody fights, especially with each other. We are at peace: with God, with ourselves, with others.
Hebrews 12: 14 pursue peace with all men, and holiness.
We pursue peace, not strife. We don't enter cultures with intent to bully them into submission to our message. Instead, we demonstrate peace to them ~ what it is to be peaceful. We discard our agendas. We give a back seat to politics and arguments about secondary matters.
Proverbs 13: 10 By pride comes only contention, but with the well-advised is wisdom.
Contention is a product of pride. Good advisors, though, who have wisdom, come in humility. They are not pressing a program of pushing a style, a culture, or a prescribed way of living. They are there to love and to model abundant life. We should enter every situation in life with an intent to make peace. It may not always turn out that way, but that is our mode of operation.
Romans 14: 4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
We do well to realize this, especially among believers. We tend to judge one another and size one another up based on our religious prejudices. But people don't stand because they are like us; they stand because of Him who holds them up.
Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
There are no perfect peacemakers. Some situations make it difficult to nearly impossible. But we are to strive for it. We seek to understand our adversaries, not provoke them. Were we in their shoes, our perspective would change. Peacemakers wear the other man's moccasins (doesn't mean they will fit).
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Lashing out at "sinners" is the last thing we are called to do. Why? Because we are all in the same boat. It is pride that makes us think we are better than others because we may do a few things right. This doesn't mean we are excusing sin. We are actually getting the better of it because we recognize its depths ~ in us. Spiritual people are gentle toward those caught in snares. They don't abandon birds caught in brambles. They don't mash in the thorns.
1Peter 2: 21-23 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth"; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.
God knows whether you are in the right or in the wrong. You don't have to make a big defense and win the argument. Does winning matter more than connecting, sharing, building?
Ephesians 4: 1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Where did the church lose this? Thankfully, many Christians do model these things; but many do not. The church is a unit not an array of camps lobbing grenades at each other. We all belong to one Body, even if we are "members in particular." That body can't function well if it is at internal war.
1John 4: 20 If someone says, ‘I love God,' and hates his brother he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
If we "hate" the believers in Christ, we hate Him. If we belittle them, we belittle Him. Any questions?
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
This is how peacemaking is done. Have you ever heard a couple arguing and the voices get more shrill and the language harsher? Harsh words tend to escalate.
Soft words cool the passion. Take a deep breath. Think about what you're saying. Say it calmly. The debate you're involved in is not the end of the world. Sometimes it's the loser who actually wins.
2 comments:
Very good words and advice, my friend. By the way how did you get it in color? I seemed to have lost the ability. It was a HTLM thing but I don't seem to have that option anymore.
When I started figuring out how to upload pictures I suddenly got this better window for composing. Very simple actually. Look for an upgrade somewhere. I think that's how I did it. But, all of a sudden it was there. I still don't know how you do some of the stuff you do. And Toby with his You-Tube. But I aim for the stars. Might as well. I should get it down in the next 750,000 years.
Post a Comment