“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” - Mathew 5:9 (NIV).
Peace has been described as “freedom from disturbance…being in a state of tranquility”! Virtually every person desires peace because of its blessings. The absence of peace would mean being locked in a state of perpetual conflict, witnessing violence that endangers one’s life. Nations that are not at peace but plagued with war cause their peoples to flee and become refugees in other places. When a home lacks peace, with its members always at war with each other, certainly, some would rather move out than subject themselves to constant danger.
Long before Jesus was born the Prophet Isaiah proclaimed, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Before he ascended to heaven the Lord gave a blessing to his disciple, “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).
Peace is therefore one of the blessing of walking with Christ. The Apostle Paul in his benediction to the church in Thessalonica concluded with, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord will be with you all” (11 Thessalonians, 3:16 ESV).
As believers we enjoy that peace. This is why scriptures warn us that when we find those who reject the faith, instead of putting up a war, as some other faith do, ours is, “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet” (Mathew 10:14). We are a peaceful people!
Believers in Christ bring and share the peace of the Lord wherever they happen to be. Where there is animosity they bring reconciliation. Where there are wars, they preach forgiveness. Where they find dissension or civil discord bordering on cessation they preach unity that they may all be one under Christ.
Today, walk with that blessing and pass on the message of peace to your loved ones and those dear to your heart. That the peace of the Lord may abound and put to rest hearts that are restless because He is near!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray that your peace fills and overflows my heart, and I may gladly take that peace and spread it that they may believe, Christ is Lord, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
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06/05/2024 - 07/05/2024 All day“Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
Almost all cultivators are aware that if soils are used perpetually without rains but constantly under work they are deprived of all nutrients. So, though once productive, they lose all power to yield fresh crops as before. But so is our Christian life when we do not regularly feed our spirit life with the Word!
In our leading verse, the Apostle Paul is urging believers to “renew” their minds rather than make them stale, lest they end up losing all power to yield fruit. But how is this done? We renew our minds by constantly reading the Word of God, for there are always insights with God speaking to us afresh. Psalm 119:104-5 says, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow and be saved.” It is a beautiful illustration for any who have seen a hungry baby sucking the teats of a mother.
Renewing our minds is also by reading about the lives of people of faith who have walked before us and their created works. The Christian faith started in the first century after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now over two millenniums it has produced giants of faith who have shared their walk with God through inspired teachings that are a treasure to dig into. By scouring the writings of the great saints before us, listening to their recorded sermons, songs and preaching, which these days can be found on virtual medial channels like Yu tube, reading their biographies, our faith is renewed.
And then we also renew our faith through fellowship. When the Apostle Paul urges us, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ( Hebrews 10:25), he is reminding us that our faith cannot grow in isolation. During the Covid pandemic lockdown one bitter issue was denying Believers opportunity to meet fellow followers of Christ to share testimonies showing the work of God in their lives.
So today, if your faith is on a low keel, or you want it to flower, one thing you can’t help doing without is “renewing” your mind. The blessings to unfold are endless.
Prayer for today:Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a treasure we have of your rich Word to dig into always; books around us of faith to inspire us; and believers to share our faith- may we make use of these, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
