Tag: peacemaker

Jesus Is the Peace

On By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, praise, Scripture, testimony, YouVersion App1 Comment

From YouVersion Bible App, “Advent, Day 12”

Peace to the Ends of the Earth

When we remember the story of Jesus’ birth, it’s easy to focus on the manger, the wise men, and the ornate gifts. We imagine the bright star the wise men followed and the peace, joy, and anticipation they must have felt.

If we’re not careful, we can forget about some of the influential events that were happening at the same time.

Scripture tells us that as the wise men were following the star, they stopped to talk with King Herod. The men asked him, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” They learned that according to the chief priests and teachers, the promised Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.

King Herod asked the men to report back with Jesus’ location. After the wise men made it to Jesus, they returned home on a different route because of a dream warning them not to go back to Herod.

Jesus and His family fled to Egypt to seek refuge from the schemes of the king, who had plans to harm Jesus. When the king heard, he was furious and gave orders to kill all the young boys in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas.

During this time, these communities and towns would have likely been scared and overwhelmed. Peace was probably the last thing they were thinking about or experiencing.

This year, the same might be true for you. Peace might feel impossible. Life circumstances, world events, grief, and relational tensions can all take the front seat. If this season is difficult for you, or if peace feels out of reach, remember you’re not alone.

Through Jesus, we have true peace—a state of wholeness, calm, and renewal between God and His people. At the time of His birth, people were expecting the Savior of the world to be a fierce warrior who would use violence to bring justice and rescue God’s people.

While Jesus brought about justice and rescue, it was through love and compassion. And instead of being a source of violence, He allowed Himself to be crucified on a cross to save us from our sin. He received all of the hate and pain the world had to offer. With His resurrection, the power of violence, hatred, and division suffered a fatal blow.

Jesus’ life brought us peace that only God can give, and He shares it with us. In John 14:27 NIV, Jesus says:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

The peace Jesus gives us isn’t fake or fabricated. It’s not ignoring the problems around us. And it isn’t disengaging with people who might irritate you.

The peace Jesus gives us is a true gift that brings us closer to people around us. It steadies our racing minds, it calms our inner turmoil, and it reminds us who is in control. When we fix our eyes on Jesus, remembering that He is in control this holiday season—and always—we experience the deep peace He promises to provide.

Pause and Pray

Gracious Father, thank You for bringing Your Son to earth all those years ago as a way to make peace between one another and with You. Please help me to be a peacemaker who reflects Your patience, kindness, and compassion to everyone I meet. I want to be someone who brings a sense of wholeness, calm, and renewal to every situation and relationship in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

My Thoughts

I really need some peace today! It’s not that my day is going badly but that I am anxious about a visit to my sister next week. In fact, I got good news from my nephrologist this morning. For the first time in several years, my kidney function improved…only slightly, but I will take it!

Now, about my visit. My sister is a diehard Democrat, and for her anyone who voted for Trump is a traitor to the nation and to her personally. She has decreed that after the inauguration, if President Trump does as he says and goes against all she believes (like transgender surgeries and abortions and all of the other liberal hoo-hah), then she will no longer have anything to do with any of us who voted for him. That seems a little radical, right? And not exactly a peaceful move. Nevertheless, I hope to use my visit to practice being a peacemaker. I never argue with her about her views when she lectures me about why she is right. I just sit silently. I hope that the topics don’t come up, but she usually brings them up when we are eating together. So, this year, I hope to use scripture to explain why I feel the way I do and voted the way I did instead of giving her a silent pass. I want her to know that I love her but Jesus is the only way to peace, no matter who is in the Oval Office. He is in control, even in the tumultuous times of liberal media overload about how bad the next four years will be. That’s my plan and I pray it will works out. I leave on Monday and return on the Saturday before Christmas. Prayers appreciated, my friends. And one more praise for a good kidney report! Thank you, Lord, for that unexpected surprise!

Peace Is an Ongoing Effort

On By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, ScriptureLeave a comment

From the YouVersion Bible App, “Advent, Day 11”

3 Ways to Practice Peace Today

Throughout the Bible, we see examples of peace being a state of wholeness, calm, and renewal between God and His people. In the different stories from the last few days, we might notice that peace isn’t a one-and-done experience. Instead, it’s an ongoing process that ultimately brings us closer to God.

People in Scripture lived in the tension of receiving God’s peace each day, while also finding ways to share His peace with the people around them.

Yesterday, we read Matthew 5:9 NIV, when Jesus said:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Notice it says “peacemaker”—not “peacekeeper.” Peacemaking is an active process where we all have a role to play. It doesn’t mean we go along with every opinion that gets thrown out around the dinner table. It also doesn’t mean we have to agree with everything our friends and family believe. Those actions may avoid conflict, but they don’t make peace.

It’s also tempting to ignore conflict or pretend it’s not there. But Romans 12:9 reminds us that love must be sincere. If we hide our hurt feelings, we’re not bringing peace—we’re avoiding the process of making peace.

So how can we bring peace to our relationships with God and others?

1. We recognize we already belong.

On Day 8, we learned we have the gift of peace because we belong to God’s family. This peace can’t be taken from us because of who gave it to us. Still, there will be moments, circumstances, and seasons in our lives where it might be more difficult to find peace.

It might be in an unexpected diagnosis, a long-running relational tension, or when it feels like those around us are far from God. In these moments, we can choose to trust and believe that God is working in our lives and the lives of those we care about. And we can take these concerns and worries to our heavenly Father, believing that He will replace our anxious thoughts with His perfect peace.

2. We acknowledge reality.

Sometimes when we feel a lack of peace, it’s because we’re struggling with how we wish things around us were different. In order to experience the state of wholeness, calm, and renewal that God’s peace promises us, we must acknowledge where we are right now. When we do, we can better identify steps to make peace around us.

3. We share what we have.

Not only is peace a gift we receive from God, it’s a gift we share with those around us. We have confidence in what we know is true of God—His faithfulness, kindness, patience, and more. And we choose to share this goodness with our friends, family, coworkers, and community. It starts small, like choosing to listen with empathy and curiosity, praying for those you disagree with, and taking a step to reflect God’s character to others.

When we practice peace in these ways, we’ll be able to see the wholeness, calm, and renewal that God wants for each of us.

My Thoughts

When I think of peace being ongoing and having to work at it, that seems like a dichotomy to me. Shouldn’t peace just rain down from heaven and fill each of us? Well, maybe, but my experience has not shown that to be true. As the devotional points out, there are actions we can take to help make peace a reality in our lives daily, not just for ourselves but for those around us, too.

I have a family member who is very contentious and hard for me to live at peace with. When I visit, I have to hold my tongue, keep my opinions to myself and hope that she doesn’t explode from something I say or do. I confess that I have been avoiding the process of making peace, as the devotional points out. It is up to me to love sincerely by sharing the truth, even if she doesn’t want to hear it and it’s hard for me to share. With the reality of God’s peace and knowing that I am accepted by Him, I think I can do it. At least, I plan to try.

Why Am I Talking? (WAIT)

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/45490/day/7

This devotional is all about being a peacemaker, in spite of circumstances of the effect this might have on you and your life. I don’t want to say that social media is evil, but it can be insidious, stirring up strife in all of the wrong places, including families. During the pandemic, my family was divided on the vaccinations just as many other families were. I had a legitimate medical reason not to get vaccinated repeatedly, and my children accepted it. We were invited to see the grandchildren and cautioned about having to wear masks in public. That was that.

Politics is a whole different ball game. I am a right wing Christian conservative. I will stand up for God’s word in spite of the whole political controversy that happens daily around this time. But I am not willing to lose my family relationships over it. I have two very liberal sons, but instead of arguing politics with them, I talk with them about the things we have in common: their children, books, movies, even games they enjoy. I have “unfollowed” them on social media so that I do not see all of their political sniping and get upset by it. I was just ignoring it and not responding, but that sent my BP soaring, so now if I want to see what they are posting, I go to their pages. If I want them to see my post, I tag them (and it’s never a political post). As the election draws closer, I am sure that my views will be more under scrutiny about how could I possibly vote for such a man and how does he represent my godly values. My answer is that I vote for the person who most represents my Biblical worldview regardless of their personal life. God used a lot of evil men to bring about His plan and will continue to do so because He is God and we are not. That being said, while my husband goes out of his way to debate online, I circle away from that interaction, preferring to keep my opinions to myself unless I am specifically asked a question. I think it is harder to be a peacemaker in this day of social media and vitriolic political attacks, but I am trying to maintain relationships which will last. Yes, I am definitely concerned about the direction our nation is taking and the future that will be there for our grandchildren. But breaking off relationships because they don’t like my candidate and I don’t like theirs does not make sense. I’m a Christian first, a wife second and a mom third. Somewhere way down the line of my priorities, I am a conservative who votes for the most conservative candidates running. But to maintain peace, I don’t feel that I have to let the entire world of social media know my thoughts.

Maybe I am being cowardly? I don’t know for sure. But I do know in my heart that God is sovereign and regardless of this election or any future one, God is in control. So, I will step back, let God be God and do my best to maintain relationships in which I can influence my children and grandchildren to make godly choices and decisions.