Be a Peacemaker
All of us at some time in our life have dealt with difficult times and difficult people. In fact, many of the difficult times were caused by difficult people. We have all faced hurt feelings, rejection, insults, rude behavior and sometimes downright nastiness.
These conflicts may have led to broken relationships. And some of these relationships have been close relationships. We may have had a disagreement with a family member or close friend or business relationship. Unkind words were spoken and a split occurred. We're hurt. They're hurt. Everyone is unhappy, maybe even angry. What does God want us to do about restoring a broken fellowship.
In Day 20 or my 40 day journey with Rick Warren and his book The Purpose Driven Life, I found out...
"Relationships are always worth restoring.
Because life is all about learning how to love, God wants us to value relationships and make the effort to maintian them instead of discarding them whenever there is a rift, a hurt, or a conflict. In fact, the Bible tells us that God has given us the ministry of restoring relationships. For this reason a significant anount of the New Testament is devoted to teaching us how to get along with one another. Paul wrote, 'If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spriit means anything to you,...Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.' Paul taught athat our ability to get along with others is a mark of spiritual maturing."
"If you want God's blessing on your life and you want to be known as a child of God, you must learn to be a peacemaker. Jesus said, 'God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.' Notice Jesus didn't say, 'Blessed are the peace lovers,' because everyone loves peace. Neither did he say, 'Blessed are the peacable,' who are never disturbed by anything. Jesus said, 'Blessed are those who work for peace'--those who actively seek to resolve conflict. Peacemakers are rare because peacemaking is hard work.'"
1 comment:
Thank you for this post...very timely for me! I completely agree that relationships need to be repaired. I find that generally it requires swallowing ones pride and humbling themself in order to begin to heal. I ♥ Rick Warren and think it's time to dust off his book again! Have a great week!
~Mary
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