Blessed Are The Peacemakers

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’” – Matthew‬ ‭18:15-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There you have it —the godly way to handle sin and conflict. It may be simple to understand, but it goes against our natural tendency, which is to gossip to anyone about our offense EXCEPT the offender. When we gossip, we offer a cup of bitterness and hatred to the listener—a poisonous cocktail that, when swallowed, begins to destroy them from the inside out.  

Wars begin when we swallow this bait of the devil.  The enemy delights in destroying relationships, especially marriages and families.  Imagine how he must relish watching our country implode! 

The enemy sets us up to victimize each other. We bloody one another while he sits back unscathed with a sickening grin on his face. This should make our blood boil, to realize that when we embrace hate, we play the fool, becoming pawns of the enemy. Get angry, but not at one another. Get angry at the devil! 

How then should we handle conflict and sin?

Follow the counsel of Matthew 18.  Prayerfully, with a heart of reconciliation, approach the offender. Together take the issue before God.  If they refuse, take two or three others, and try again.

If we are the offender, we should humbly ask for forgiveness and make restitution, if necessary.  And if we are tempted to listen to gossip, scripture instructs us to not become embroiled in foolish controversies (Titus 3:9). We should refuse to be pulled in. 

Father, help us to raise the standard and to respond to sin and conflict with godliness.  Strengthen us to serve as loving, wise and humble peacemakers in a world riddled with hate. 

Teach us to turn a deaf ear to gossip, and instead to pour out mercy and grace.  Lord, Your Word says, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”  May we choose to be blessed!  In Jesus’ Name ❤️

https://www.facebook.com/Prayers-of-a-Ragamuffin-Warrior-171515087035441/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Unshakeable Hope

Image
  UNSHAKEABLE HOPE By: Julie Souza Bradley Lilly “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” - Psalms ‭139:23  ‬NIV As the times we are in are heating up, our eyes search for HOPE and comfort.  We look longingly over our shoulder at the “Good Old Days”—simpler times, old relationships and habits—people and things that, in the past, brought momentary relief.  But, more often than not, we find that the fleeting well of comfort found there has since dried up. ‬ We have not been abandoned to fend for ourselves, however. God, Himself, will be our refuge!‬ When everything else is shaking, we have been given a glorious hope.  God is immovable, and when we put our trust in Him, so are we!  ‬ “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.” – Psalm 125:1-2 NIV Beloved, let’s not until the worl...
Read more

Kissing Boo-Boos

Image
  KISSING BOO-BOOS By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly Oh, the miracle of a kiss on a boo-boo!  I remember being little and getting a cut on my finger.  I’d raise that chubby finger and go running to my mom.  She always knew what to do.  She would gently clean it, put on a bandaid and give it a kiss.  We weren’t done until my hurt had been kissed.  There was magic in that application of compassion and love.  It made the pain go away. We have all seen that toddler with a boo-boo.  They run to their mom or dad to clean it, put on a bandaid and give it a kiss.  If the wound isn’t treated, the tiny nick can continue to hurt and bleed. Each time it is touched or bumped they are reminded of the pain.  And an untreated wound can become infected and grow. There are people all around us with unkissed boo-boos today.  They are hurt, afraid or sad.  They go through life fearful of being hurt again, and looking for someone they can t...
Read more

The Secret of The Birds

Image
 THE SECRET OF THE BIRDS By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly “Praise the Lord from the earth, Sea monsters and all deep sea creatures; Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and winged birds.” - Psalm 148:7, 10.   Morning has broken and the choir of birds outside my window is singing their hearts out.  Birds may not be considered to be intelligent, yet their response to God in hardship could teach us a few things.  We humans grumble to God about so much, but the birds praise their creator in severe heat and bitter cold.  They may have nests and the shade of trees, but they don’t have the many comforts we enjoy, yet they praise Him.  They know a secret:  God is enthroned upon our praises.  When our hearts are full of worship, He takes His rightful place and brings with Him joy and peace. Let’s take a lesson from the birds.  Their trust in their maker to provide for their needs, even in the face of harsh seasons, calls out to our faith.  It ...
Read more