BBD 09.17.02 Go In Peace
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
09.17.02
Go In Peace
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." -
Matthew 5:9.
Have you ever found it hard to be a peacemaker? I have. It is hard to
bring peace to a situation when those involved have no desire for peace. A
phrase we hear frequently is, "Can't we all just get along?" The problem is
that some people do not want to "get along." In fact there are some people
who delight in causing trouble and creating chaos. I was reminded of this
over the past few days while trying to bring peace to a family situation.
It is obviously God's will in most instances for us to be peacemakers. In
our lives we are to go forward in peace. In Mark 5:34 Jesus said,
"Daughter, your faith has made you well. GO IN PEACE, and be healed of your
affliction." In Luke 7:50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved
you. GO IN PEACE." In Luke 8:48 Jesus said, "Daughter, be of good cheer;
your faith has made you well. GO IN PEACE." In John 14:27 Jesus says,
"PEACE I leave with you, My PEACE I give to you; not as the world gives do I
give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." In
John 16:33 Jesus 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."
How can you make peace when others desire the opposite? First an
understanding of the word "peace" is necessary. In the Bible the concept of
peace is more than an absence of strife and hostility. The word used for
peace means in part "to be sound" or "to be complete." It carries the
meaning of being "whole" and "to live well." Here we have some clues for
being a peacemaker. For the Christian "to live well" it is necessary for us
to live like Jesus.
When we encounter the hostility of the world let us respond as Jesus would
respond. We are to "go in peace." In other words we are to live well our
lives following the example of Jesus. Jesus gives us the example and the
instruction of turning the other cheek (Luke 6:29) and of whatever you want
men to do to you, doing also to them (Matthew 7:12). In the midst of the
strife of the world we must "seek first the Kingdom of God and His
righteousness (Matthew 6:33)." When it seems impossible to be a peacemaker
we remember Jesus said, "men always ought to pray and not lose heart (Luke
18:1)."
Let us "go in peace."
Copyright © 2002. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the
devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited.
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