A cost to making peace?

 

A Bible word search for peace pairs it with grace, mercy, righteousness and wisdom. Today, MacArthur points out that peace also is a partner of truth. That is, believing truth is important to inner peace. It is also important to being a peacemaker.

Peace is not merely the absence of conflict such as a truce or peace agreements. The hostilities may be averted but underlying issues are not solved. For one thing, the desire for power is not resolved. Also, the truce might hold but a cold war could still smolder.

The peace described in the NT is from God and His gifts are for those who put their faith in Him. Romans 3 describes the human condition without God by saying no one is righteous and no one seeks God or does good, not even one. This passage ends with:

Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans 3:14–18)

The contrast between the human idea of peace and God’s peace is expressed in the words of Jesus: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Not only that, Christians clearly have a choice. We have this peace but can ‘let’ fear into our hearts. Paul told Timothy, “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7) We need to make the right choice, not let fear control our minds and actions.

James also wrote about the connection between the Lord’s gift of peace and godly wisdom:

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:17–18)

His peace is different, but that does not mean Christians will never experience hostility. If we do as the Bible tells us, we will hold fast to the truths of God, and our stand for truth will make some people angry. Jesus knew this first hand. He even said “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34) Those who do not want to hear truth, particularly truth about their spiritual need, often react with hostility to the point of persecuting Christians. Sometime Christians resist truth as well. This means being a peacemaker can be costly.

I am not a true peacemaker if I try to maintain ‘peace’ with those who do not accept truth. MacArthur speaks of being called narrow-minded and divisive for dealing with controversial issues. He and other pastors and many Christians know what it is like to be misunderstood and attacked.

Jesus, You know it too, more than any of Your faithful servants. The cost can be high, even death, for defending our faith. I’m thinking of my own need to be faithful and a peacemaker . . . not someone who compromises to maintain peace, but who bring Your good news and Your truth to those who need to hear it, whether they will accept it or not. Being a peacemaker is evidence of being Your child, so grant me boldness to do it, and keep me burdened to pray for those who do not yet know Your peace and for those who suffer for their work as peacemakers.

MORE: Read Luke 12:51–53, noting how the gospel can bring division even among families. Also check out this LINK for prayer needs around the world for peacemakers who are suffering. The stories are hard to read but incredible examples of the cost of doing what God says.

 

 

Not the most popular character trait . . .

 

 

Today’s word has a bad reputation. Many people associate it with ‘wimpy’ or fearful weakness, yet MEEK describes Jesus Christ who is none of those things.

It also describes Moses in Numbers 12:3. “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.” He was far from wimpy. Instead, this word is about  a lowly, pious, and modest mind, which prefers to bear injuries rather than return them. That takes strength rather than fearful weakness.

David also used this concept to describe God both in 2 Samuel and the Psalms. He said, “You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great.”

In the NT, this describes Jesus and He even used the word meek to describe Himself. Here, and in many cases it is translated gentle.

Matthew 11:29. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Even the readers of that day thought being noted for meekness or modesty was a weakness. Yet this describes God the Son, a perfect human without sin. Some say meekness is the best described as strength under control, like a wild stallion that has been tamed. There is power behind true meekness!

This word and its often used synonym, gentleness, means to approach others (including one’s enemies) in a humble and caring spirit, not using force to get one’s way. It is being like Christ and should characterize Christians, particularly since it is included as one of the nine characteristics of the fruit of the God’s Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22–23. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

It is also descriptive of the wisdom of God. James 3:13 asks and answers, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.” Then James describes the opposite which is “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” and causes “disorder and every vile practice.” He contrast this fleshy wisdom with godly wisdom that includes humble and lenient gentleness:

James 3:17–18. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Is there a difference between meekness and gentleness? Paul uses both words in 2 Corinthians 10:1 to describe Jesus as the source of his own attitude:

“I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!”

My dictionary says meekness (often translated gentleness) means “acting in a manner that is gentle, mild, and even-tempered” whereas in this verse, gentleness means “leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person charged with administering justice.” The first is a general way of being in all situations, while the second word means the same thing but is more specific in who and why meekness is shown.

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Jesus, because He died and rose again, purchased my redemption. He did this in meekness, accepting the wrong done to Him because in the eyes of God it was the only way to save sinners. As my Savior, He treats me with gentleness, even during those times I describe as being “booted in the backside and hugged at the same time.” It is His attitude of choice toward His children. As I focus on this, my attitude toward others cannot hold on to things like anger, resentment, bitterness, accusation, etc. Jesus is not like that, and because God is at work to transform me into the image of His Son, then this unpopular word meekness needs to be part of who I am.