Make peace!
by Sal Huckel
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Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9).
Make sure you read the whole passage and pray for new insight into another extremely familiar Scripture.
Lord, open our hearts to your word to us today.
So many of us may be feeling some of these things right now. Aware of our desperate need for God (poor in spirit). Mourning, hungering for righteousness. In need of the promises that we find here in Jesus’ teaching to the crowds following him around, desperate for hope.
We have a picture of comfort and the promises of heaven where we will find our reward.
We must remember that while these promises will be fulfilled in heaven, on this earth, we can expect insults, persecution and false testimony to be given about us.
Read verse 9 once again. We are called to be peacemakers to bring the kingdom of heaven into the here and now. We have the antidote here to the negative experiences and behaviours we can receive at the hands of others – those outside the body of Christ. But wait! Outside the body? Are we all always fulfilling this calling to be peacemakers?
Find a recording of the Prayer of St Francis, ‘Make me a channel of your peace’.
As Christians, we are not immune to insults, persecution and false testimony – acts of the flesh that, sadly, we find inside the church, as well as outside it. If we are to be called children of God, we must take this peacemaker role very seriously.
Call to mind someone you have hurt or had a ruptured relationship with. How can you bring the kingdom of God closer in that relationship? When you hear another dearly beloved child of God ill spoken of, how will you respond? Pray for purity of heart, humility, mercy and peace to grow in all of us. There’s enough persecution and trouble in this world without us adding to it. Bring comfort to God’s people – and also be comforted.
Lord, make me a channel of your peace and use me to bring the kingdom of heaven closer for others. Where we must live with the hurts and injuries of this world, may we find comfort, blessing and mercy from you. Help us understand and accept that we will receive and suffer in your name and trust the promise of reward in heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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