Tuesday, June 1, 2010

MAKING PEACE
What does it look like to live in peace with others?

Scriptures To Consider:
For, The one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue
Peter 3:10-11 (NLT)

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
Psalm 34:12-13


Big T's Thought To Ponder:
I think one of the best places to start is in the Beatitudes: Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them saying: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." We are called to be peacemakers as sons of Christ, it is one of His many indwelling attributes.
Matthew 5:1; 9

James gives us direct and specific reasons why peace is such a great benefit towards our spiritual prosperity and relationship building: "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." Show me a peaceful spirit or peacemaker as James has illustrated and I think we will find Christian maturity more times then not. To be at complete peace in the world, is to be in oneness with the Holy Spirit. I truly believe there is a direct connection between being at peace within yourself and with all the relationships around you; and being in complete union with Christ and I think that peace can start right here while we are still in the world.
James 3:17-18

The four gospels don't make many mentions about peace, but one given on the eve of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is very revealing: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." When we really internalize this verse it brings so much clarity to who is in control of all things, every Divine breath He gives us, each beat of our heart, every pure thought and all goodness that we possess. We have been blessed with the living Spirit of God dwelling within us as believers, why is it so difficult to live out each and every moment of each and every day in complete peace as He instructs us in this verse, right before He gave His live for us?
John 14:27

Jesus gives us insight to unavoidable troubles we are all sure to face while we are here in the world. He gives us an awesome promise of encouragement for the raging storms of life that will prove unbearable, a blanket of truth to wrap ourselves in during the toughest trials we will ever face; and an anchor of hope to bury deep into the immovable and unshakable bedrock of Jesus Christ! He says: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." The only place that we can ever find lasting peace is in Christ, this is the peace that is to carry us through our darkest moments in life. We are to count our trials as blessing and to fear not, but to be living examples of the peace we have been given for all the the world to see -this is the essence of our light shining bright... We are called to share it with our family, friends, neighbors, brother's and sister's in Christ and all those He allows to cross our path, by living it - WOW, that's awesome!!!
John 16:33

How glorious it would be to be free of all the burdens of living in this dangerous, unstable, violent world, but as sons of God such is not our lot in life. God has called us to a life that runs in opposition to the majority of this world's practices and attitudes. As such, we are caught not only in the general events and circumstances generated in the world, but also when we directly irritate and anger those close to us by determinedly following God's way.

I have experienced this very irritation and anger by sharing these daily devotionals with some of my own family members, many have opted not to receive it. I could stop sending them all together and believed the lie that satan would have me believe, that there is no value in continuing; or I could choose the live in the peace of Christ in me and stand on His truth; that His Word never comes back void or empty! I choose to have peace and to leave the consequences up to God for those who persecute me for who I am in Christ. I replied to my family members with a letter of love and kindness that they would have never expected to receive from the old man that once lived.

Paul tells us: "For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father."
Ephesians 2:14-18

Paul goes on to say: "We cannot be right with God unless we are also right with men. Make peace quickly; do not let the sun go down on your wrath." "Hatred is sin, and sin separates us from God."
Ephesians 4:26; 1 John 4:20

Paul also writes in Romans about our peace in Christ Jesus; "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."
Romans 5:1-2

God's Truths and Instruction:
When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
Proverbs 16:7

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11

Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.
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