"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" - Mathew 5:9 (NIV).
Peace has been described as a state of period in which there is no war! When one looks at the course of human history that period has been very rare indeed. From the 19th century to the present there has been over 35 major global wars that have killed over 180 million people. The majority of war victims are never the armed soldiers but actually the defenceless populations caught in between.
Wars often result in genocide- an attempt to wipe out a population of one group through massacres, as happened in Rwanda in 1994. Wars lead to displacement of people and scattering once those secure in their homes as refugees, as has happened to those caught in the Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan war. Wars retard economic development because of insecurity, as has happened to Uganda since 1979.
We live in times of war and Jesus forewarned us of such a time- "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come'" (Mathew 24:6). Presently, Russia and the West are pitting guns at each other. Elsewhere is no different with internal power struggles in many nations that often turn violent.
Wars will always happen because of the depravity of man. But when wars do come as Jesus has warned, we should not be alarmed as the people of the world without hope. For he 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" (John 14:27).Wars give believers a chance to point to the lost the Prince of peace. With wars Christians stand in the gap as messengers of peace!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as wars well up all around us, what a comfort to know that true and everlasting peace is found in you, which I pray that mankind may know, this I pray in Jesus's name.
Related upcoming events
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08/05/2024 - 09/05/2024 All day“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
The culture of sharing gifts runs through scriptures and is at the heart of the Gospel. Upon realizing that Jesus Christ had been born the three wise main did not just go empty handed. “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Mathew 2:11).
When Jacob decided to return to his country, he went with gifts to soften the heart of his twin brother Esau, whom he had left maddened at him for various wrongs. “Then he selected these gifts from his possessions to present to his brother, Esau: 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys” ( Genesis 32: 13-15). The reason was, Jacob thought, “I will try to appease him by sending gifts ahead of me. When I see him in person, perhaps he will be friendly to me.” So the gifts were sent on ahead, while Jacob himself spent that night in the camp” (vv 2—21).
Esau was already a wealthy man and had no need of the gifts presented. But Jacob pleaded with him. “Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift” (Genesis 33: 11). This symbol of good touched Esau, brightened his heart, burying the old acrimonious relation.
Taking after these two instances believers should be in the habit of sharing gifts. We should visit each other not empty handed but like the wise men with gifts, not so much that those we are gifting are lacking, but as a way of blessing them. Proverbs 11:25-26, says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Most importantly we bless each other with gifts because we have received the most important gift there is in life, the gift of salvation. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I thank you for the most precious gift of all that you gave me of eternal life through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and so I pray that I may not hesitate to share this gift and bless those with as much whom you enable me to meet, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
