James 3:18 “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”
Lord, bitter envy and selfish ambition are the direct opposites of being a peacemaker. Peacemakers are generally selfless people who want their relationship with others, or others relationships with others, restored. There’s a lot of “others” in that sentence, but “others” is what we all need to be about…not ourselves. Personally I have found that peacemakers are not always welcome though, Lord. I heard it said by one beleaguered peacemaker, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall get their lights punched out!” He said it in jest of course, but sometimes that is how it goes. You, the ultimate peacemaker, certainly were not welcome and look what we did to You! But Your harvest of righteousness has been amazing!
Many churches have split even after their peacemakers have earnestly tried to stop the conflict. I understand that if part of the body will not yield to the truth of Your Word and feel the need to leave, they should. However; I have seen a church split over the color of the carpet or the size of a bathroom! I’m sure Satan laughed and shouts with glee over those! Some differences, thanks to You, have been solved and the result has been phenomenal! (SBC)
In families, rifts are common because we spend so much time together and everyone has their own opinion. Especially if family members are not saved or are not walking with You. Peacemakers are the ones who are relying on Your wisdom, selfless, the most loving of the group, realizing that folks can agree to disagree and still love and live with one another.
This verse does not say that peacemakers reap a harvest of righteous for themselves, but they raise a harvest if it inferring that the benefit is for many. Lord, make me a peacemaker!
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