Be A Peacemaker
For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
In a world of violence and strife, God’s Word says that we are to be peacemakers: “If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody” (Romans 12:18 MSG). Unfortunately, not everyone chooses to “get along.”
But peace is a choice you make. You decide not to enter into strife and arguments. Arguments require more than one person speaking. You may have to stand in the midst of strife, and hold your peace. Or you may need to remove yourself from a strife-filled situation. Again, you have to make a choice not to speak.
Refusing to enter into conflict doesn’t mean that the other person wins. In fact, it proves who is stronger in character. An angry and easily agitated person is unstable. He or she cannot be trusted to rein in their emotional impulses. If they have leadership positions, they lead through fear and intimidation.
Sometimes to avoid strife, we must choose to let another have their choice in a matter. This does not mean that the person who gives up their desire will be at a loss. God always rewards peacemakers who walk in faith.
Those who are continually in strife, who choose to yield to their emotions, cannot be walking in fellowship with Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace. Although they profess to be a Christian, their behaviour says otherwise. Their attitudes and actions speak louder than their words.
In Genesis 13, Abraham had left his father and the land of Ur of the Chaldees. Lot, his nephew, wanted to go with him and Abraham allowed him to follow. Both men had many servants and livestock. As they journeyed, Lot’s servants got into strife with Abraham’s servants.
Abraham went to Lot and said, “To have no strife between us, you can make a choice which direction you want to go and the land where you want to settle.” Abraham agreed to go the opposite direction, leaving Lot to the land of Lot’s choice.
Lot chose the most fertile land, Sodom and Gomorrah. God then told Abraham to look to the east, the west, the north and the south, and said, “I’m going to give it all to you.”
Lot found that Sodom and Gomorrah were full of wickedness. He remained there up until its destruction, barely escaping with his wife and daughter because of Abraham’s prayer for him. However, Lot’s wife was so attached to the place that she looked back with longing and turned into a pillar of salt. The attitude of Sodom and Gomorrah had gotten into Lot’s whole family.
The day of God’s promise to Abraham came, and he and his seed inherited all of the Promised Land (Israel). When we have a peacemaker attitude in resolving conflict, ultimately we will win (Hebrews 12:14). Peace will not come about without your choice to continually pursue it.
Today’s Bible Reading:
2 Sam 24; 1 Chr 21; Romans 4
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Olga, SUCH a good devotional! I recently read “to pursue peace is better than being ‘right’.” (I may have shared this on your other “righteousness” post. However, it applies here, too. Especially during an argument or misunderstanding. I have learned all of this recently and can greatly relate to this post. Thanks so much for sharing it and re-enforcing that even though it’s hard for my nature, I’m still doing the right, Godly thing by staying quiet!
Love this devotional Olga! I often ask parents to consider their goal…to be right or to find a positive solution. More often than not it is what is needed to get them on the right track. Thanks for sharing this.:)
Thank you Olga! The peacemakers in the world certainly are blessed as in Matthew 5:9 … the world truly needs peacemakers and it is a matter of choice everyday! …Thanks, Hughie 🙂
Olga, Waht is the difference between a peaceMaker and a peaceKeeper. Is a Peacemaker one who helps lead people to God so they will have peace WITH God. And a Peacekeeper will keep peace(avoid conflict) at any costs…like don’t rock the boat? I am asking because I would like to know.
Thank you.