Peace In Our Steps

If you consider yourself to be wise and one who understands the ways of God, advertise it with a beautiful, fruitful life guided by wisdom’s gentleness. Never brag or boast about what you’ve done and you’ll prove that you’re truly wise. But if there is bitter jealousy or competition hiding in your heart, then don’t deny it and try to compensate for it by boasting and being phony. For that has nothing to do with God’s heavenly wisdom but can best be described as the wisdom of this world, both selfish and devilish.  So wherever jealousy and selfishness are uncovered, you will also find many troubles and every kind of meanness. But the wisdom from above is always pure, filled with peace, considerate and teachable. It is filled with love and never displays prejudice or hypocrisy in any form and it always bears the beautiful harvest of righteousness! Good seeds of wisdom’s fruit will be planted with peaceful acts by those who cherish making peace.  James 3:13-18 TPT

Seek peace and pursue it. With others too! God’s children are those who make peace. But what does that really mean? Being a peacekeeper and a peacemaker is not the same. One runs from conflict. The other runs TOWARD it to create peace. 

Peacemakers actively pursue peace. 

Peacekeepers, well, I think we sometimes “keep the peace” by not doing anything that would appear controversial.

A peacemaker, from a Biblical perspective, is one who is actively trying to reconcile people to God and to one another. Again, there is that word actively.  It’s about helping people reconcile broken relations among themselves, and more importantly, with God.

So, when Holy Spirit reminded me as I was working on this weeks sermon that throughout my life I’ve often been more of a conflict-avoider than an actual peacemaker, I thought it was probably God’s time to address the difference- and to accept a burden He placed on my heart - peacemaker. 

2 Timothy 4:1-5 TPT Timothy, in the presence of our great God and our Lord Jesus Christ, the One who is destined to judge both the living and the dead by the revelation of His kingdom—I solemnly instruct you to proclaim the Word of God and stand upon it no matter what! Rise to the occasion and preach when it is convenient and when it is not. Preach in the full expression of Holy Spirit —with wisdom and patience as you instruct and teach the people. For the time is coming when they will no longer listen and respond to the healing words of truth because they will become selfish and proud. They will seek out teachers with soothing words that line up with their desires, saying just what they want to hear.  They will close their ears to the truth and believe nothing but fables and myths. So be alert to all these things and overcome every form of evil. Carry in your heart the passion of your calling as a church planter and evangelist, and fulfill your ministry calling.

Peacemakers cannot create peace among others if we do not first start with peace in our own hearts. How are we to calm wars and tempers or reconcile with another if we have battles raging inside? if we desire to create peace among others we must find it in Christ alone first. 

So how do we grab ahold of this peace? We surrender to Jesus and let His peace fill us.

Philippians 4:6-8 TPT Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell Him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honourable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always.

Here’s an example I bumped into this week…. Let’s say two co-workers are disagreeing. To keep the peace (at least for yourself) you might avoid one or both of them. Or maybe even nod your head in agreement when they complain about the other person to temporarily keep the peace at that moment. But that’s an appeaser. Not a peacemaker.

Jesus teaches us to actively try to see all sides and why they think/feel/believe that way. Look for overlapping views or areas where there could be a compromise. And as a peacemaker try to bring the two parties together, disarm them of their weapons so to speak, and work through the hard stuff with them to help them reconcile.

Can you imagine a hostile peacemaker? No. It’s why we must be gentle or else no one is going to listen to us, ask for advice, or reconcile with anyone - actually we must be willing to listen and slow and careful in how we respond. People’s feelings will be involved or it might be a sensitive topic.  Also, we will not always agree with people. Sometimes agreeing to disagree, politely, is all we can do to keep the peace. And that’s OK too! Remember He who is peace. 

And then flip it around too because while we are seeking peace and are open to hearing all sides, we are NOT willing to set aside God’s truth to comfort someone else. Muting His convictions and affirming someone else’s if it goes against Jesus is just as wrong.