Today, conflict is a part of homes, work places, churches, communities and countries – social, political, racial and religious.
They may not look like you, they don’t pray like you do, they don’t dress like you, they don’t raise their children like you – but then, they’re not supposed to be your copy – God created us different, unique.
There is a much conflict around us and it feels like we have been caught in the same mire as the rest of the world. Peace or even simply getting along – many think – is not practical.
The Bible says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9)
I don’t know about you, but I’d love to sow seeds of peace where there is strife. All of us want to be with people like that.
The peacemaker is quick to repent when they have wronged others and also to ask for forgiveness.
Peacemaking is not passive; it demands that we step into the conflict between ourselves and someone whom we hurt or who was hurt by us. Peacemakers initiate reconciliation between two warring persons.
Conventionally, many believe we make peace by avoidance.
But the godly peacemaker knows that there is no peace without God, healing and lots of love. And that for healing to happen, prayer, humility, tough conversations and hard work are necessary.
Many of our divides exist because we do not actually know each other or have no godly love – that sees situations biblically and from the person’s perspective.
In a world, where we have been discipled to avoid conflict, godly love takes a commitment to move toward it.
What would this world be like, if instead of judging people, we would start loving people, praying WITH them and FOR them?
Maybe they’re not making good decisions right now. May be they messed up and are still struggling.
That’s okay; show them love, show them mercy.
All of us sin differently. All of us are still on our journey.
It would be a lot easier if we did it together, than against.
#Blessed #ReflectingJesus
