Wednesday, August 2, 2017

BLESSED ARE (PART 7)



Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com.
In Christ, Mark
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk
** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn
** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Matthew 5:9

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Some people just seem to thrive on stirring up strife. Maybe you’ve met a few of them in your life. I know I have.

You know the type, right?

They always seem to want to start some form of conflict.

This might come in the way of starting a dispute or debate about seemingly everything, just for the sake of arguing against someone else.

These kinds of people might be hyper-critical or judgmental, never seeming to have anything nice or good to say about another.

And if a fight needs to get started, then you can expect these chronic agitators to be the first to volunteer their services.

Given all this, it would be good to see what the Bible has to say about the matter. Look at these verses:

It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. Proverbs 20:3

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. Proverbs 17:1

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind. 1 Timothy 6:3-5

The scriptures are pretty clear. God’s word does not speak kindly of someone who chooses to cause contention with others, seeing such people as foolish and having unhealthy interests.

As we turn to our scripture verse for today and our continued study of the Beatitudes, we find Jesus chiming in on the matter of quarreling and those who manifest it. Look at what He had to say again here:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”  Matthew 5:9

A child is connected to their parent in many ways, their behavior being one of them and that behavior can either honor or dishonor them.
   
A child of God is expected to show this by modeling the behavior of their Father. It’s the best way to identify a true child of God. This modeling can be evident in many different actions a person might take but in the words of Jesus, we find one action taking center stage that being the matter of keeping the peace.

“Blessed are the peacemakers.”

The Lord favors and desires His people, His children, to be advocates and producers of peace, not turmoil, disorder, and disruption. And when one lives in the favor of God, behaving in ways that are pleasing in His sight, then those people will be happy (the translation of the word “blessed” in these Beatitudes.

Peacemakers are blessed by God and they are happy knowing they show themselves truly as His children by the seeds of peace that they sow.

Today and every day, strive to be a peacemaker. Doing the opposite is just plain foolish.  

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

Send any prayer requests to OurChristianWalk@aol.com

No comments: