(By Gary Patterson)
The world is in such a mess, because of selfishness and hatred. If only the nations would concentrate on what the Bible tells us about how to achieve peace, and especially, world peace.
In Matthew 5:9, Jesus says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Here's a bit of context: Matthew 5:9 is part of a larger section, known as the Beattitudes. They describe the attitudes and characteristics of those who are blessed by God. They are part of the Sermon on the Mount, which is one of Jesus' most famous sermons. The word "peacemaker", in this verse, Jesus uses to highlight what we as Christian people are to be. Jesus goes on to call "peacemakers" "children of God." Jesus is indicating that those who pursue peace reflect the character of God. They are aligned with God's will, and are seen as part of God's family. The Beatitudes as a whole can be understood as a blueprint for living a life that is pleasing to God and that embodies the values of the Kingdom of Heaven. They challenge individuals to adopt a mindset and lifestyle that prioritizes compassion, justice, and humility.
I would like to mention two other Scriptures that speak about making peace.
Romans 12:18 "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." The apostle Paul emphasizes the priority of making peace. In all times of conflict, make every effort to resolve it. Don't wait for the opposing party to make a move towards resolution. You do whatever it takes to work things out.
Isaiah 2:4 "He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."
(Isaiah 2:1-5) that describes a prophetic vision of a future where God's kingdom is established on Earth. I want to focus on the part where it says "He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples." This signifies that God will serve as the ultimate judge and mediator. In this future vision, God's righteous and just rule will bring about peace and harmony among all nations.
If the world would submit to the righteous and just rule of God today, how different this world would be.
"Abraham Lincoln won the presidency of a divided country. There were four major candidates in 1860, and Lincoln only narrowly received his electoral majority. Among his harshest critics was Edwin Stanton of Ohio who opposed Lincoln’s election, calling him among other things the “original gorilla.” Yet Lincoln asked Stanton to serve as Secretary of War, recognizing his organizational skills were greatly needed for the war effort. When Lincoln was assassinated, Stanton said, “There lies the most perfect ruler of men the world has ever seen.” (Ministry 127)
Just because we have opposition, does not mean that we cannot live in peace.
In the midst of our state of disagreement, we must first show the utmost love, and concern for the needs of others, especially those who oppose us. To our surprise, in so doing, we may come to establish a blessed peace, that we never thought was possible! GP
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