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Have you taken your Daily Step
Sometimes the step may be a long one, a leap even, however, life is still taken "One step at a time!"
Add one Godly thought a day and in a year you will have taken 365 steps closer to Him!
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Thursday, March 22, 2007
"Upward Peace"
5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God." Matthew 5:9 NAS
Peace is a wonderful gift to have. Peace in ones life is desired, but may not happen. Peace in ones soul is desired and through God is attainable. It will take hard work and could take years in the procuring, yet the dream of peace in ones soul is possible. A peace that does not rest on external foundations including your past or you future. Sins and shortcomings can be forgiven. Failures can be reconciled and even benefits can be brought from them. This kind of peace begins with peace with God and this is where the peacemaker comes into the picture.
Jesus made peace with God possible. He is the ultimate peacemaker. His words upon the cross were "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do." These were words of peace.
Jesus told us that he would leave His peace with us. That is peace with God. The peace with our brothers and sisters would be harder to have. You see, God chose to make peace with us. It was His desire. It is not so with all of our fellow human beings. Some will choose never to be at peace with you or I or God.
The peace process begins with accepting that peace that Jesus purchased for us. It is hard to make peace when there is little in our hearts. We need our upward peace first. Then, try to follow His lead.
We being by sharing the "good news" or gospel. God wants peace with humankind, His creation. Jesus came to proclaim God's peace plan. The plan of salvation and freedom from the wages of sin and death. Whether we share the good news with our tongue or just witness by the living of our lives, we share the news of peace.
We are peacemakers when we forgive, when we reach out, when we act as Jesus taught. When did you reach out in peace? When you visited the sick and those in jail. When you gave clothes and medicine or even a simple drink of water. When you acted as Christ hands to someone, you became a peacemaker.
Go and make some peace today. Start within yourself.
Copyright © 2007
Points to Ponder
1) If you cannot (on your part) have peace with others, do you think you would be welcome in God's kingdom?
2) Why would you have to have peace to be child of God? Or maybe it would be better asked who would you have to have peace with to be a child of God? God? Your fellow man? Yourself?
3) Take a peace check. Who are you angry with now? Who were you angry with and now are at peace?
4) When you go to church to worship you strengthen the peace between you and God. How about with your fellow human being? Your family? The stranger in the pew with you?
5) God first chose to love you and make peace with you. What does this say about peace with your neighbor?
"God, grant me the wisdom to make peace today. Clear my vision so that I can see who is reaching out to make peace with me. Jesus, above all I want peace with You. Help me to follow Your ways. Amen"
Copyright © 2007
Email Pastor Leslie