Devotion taken from "WORD FOR YOU TODAY"

Be a peacemaker


Saturday 1st December 2018



'Blessed are the peacemakers.' Matthew 5:9 NIV



When we find ourselves in the middle of conflict or an argument, we can decide to be the troublemaker, or the peacemaker. We can choose to add to the stress and tension, or to be part of the solution.
What are some qualities of peacemakers? They look for a solution where everyone involved wins. Let's take a look at the story of Barnabas and Saul of Tarsus (read the full story in Acts 9:19-31). Barnabas, whose name means 'Son of Consolation', stood up for the newly-converted Saul, who became Paul. The leaders of the church were nervous about Paul, and you could hardly blame them. Before his conversion, he'd been hunting down Christians and threatening to have them murdered. But Barnabas wasn't thinking about Paul's violent background; he was considering his value to God. He was thinking, 'If we can harness and point this man in the right direction, he has the ability to achieve great things for God.' And he was proved right. Saul the persecutor became Paul the apostle, but not until Barnabas put his own credibility on the line.
Some other qualities? Peacemakers evaluate people by their best moments and best qualities. They assess the whole picture. They allow themselves to be governed by grace, not petty opinions and temporary conditions. Matthew 5:9 says, 'blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God' (NIV). So, let's resolve to be peacemakers in our world.

So what now? Are you involved in any conflict? Ask God to show you what you can do to bring peace to that situation.

 

[natasha2]

I like your devotional today, thanks! Its inspiring.
Key words for me: RECONCILIATION, PEACEMAKER, ALWAYS GIVE ANOTHER CHANCE, HELP PEOPLE TO KNOW THEIR IDENTITY IN CHRIST, RECOGNIZE THE POTENTIAL IN OTHERS, BE MORE OBJECTIVE, MORE SELF CONTROL, amen to that. Holy spirit help us to have more self control and have grace for others, forgiving spirit, to flow more in gentleness, kindness, understanding...and avoid people and situations where we cant do nothing if the Holy spirit shows us so. Thank you Holy spirit for your wisdom and understanding in us and help us to grasp the word of God and get deeper into every story that is shown to us in your word, inspire us oh Lord, in Jesus name, bring us closer into your word and your secrets, so that we can inspire others and bring them to salvation and show them how loving God is, and that Jesus is the only saviour, Jesus Christ!!! Amen!

 

[natasha2]

I would say also that peacemakers avoid debating and discussions themeselves. I saw in one church there is a habit to pray before and after every conversation to anybody and saw good results of it, people forget about Holy spirit and start to speak out of their own head and their own strength, go into pride, this is dangerous, discussing and debating is always about someone prooving their own opinion (it is Gods work)....it is leading always into confusion and strife, and then there is no love. Wisdom of God is needed in every conflict situation.

 

[Reborn12345]

For years working as a bouncer God taught me how to disable a situation without using force or throwing a punch, for the bible says "DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE" what you say and how it is said with "WORDS OF WISDOM FROM GOD) can determine the outcome.
Sometimes you may get situations where people will look at you and question it, for example a drunk person went up to a bouncer and said to him I can knock you out, the bouncer said "you probably, will I'm not a good fighter I can't fight at all" the drunk person looked at him could not believe what he just heard, shook his head and walked away, people looked at the bouncer and asked why did he say that, the bounce replied "Sometimes people will test you and with the person being drunk he wasn't in the right frame of mind"