Devotional
for the Week - 26th November 2007
Sermon
Title: Prophecy: The Seventh Beatitude: Blessed Are The Peacemakers
Scripture
Texts: Matthew
5:9; Genesis 32: 1-21; Genesis 33: 1-17
“Blessed
are the peacemakers for they will be called the sons of God.”
(Matthew 5:9)
Introduction
What is peace? Peace can be defined as a state of calm and quiet
whereby there is an absence of war and strife. But peacemaking
is not just about conflict avoidance in which both parties try
to avoid one another and do not do anything to resolve the matter.
Peacemaking needs to have intervention in order to achieve peace.
Why
should we have peace?
Peacemaking is a command of God (Deut 20: 10-11). When the Israelites
went to war they had to first offer the people in the city an
offer of peace. If they accepted and opened their gates to the
Israelites, they would be subjected to forced labor. This was
indeed a high price to pay for not being wiped out. Nowadays
there are not only wars between countries but also domestic
wars in families and striving in the places we work in. There
are also souls lost when there is rebellion against God. How
can this be remedied?
How
to make peace?
We can learn how to make peace from the story of Jacob and Esau.
Esau was the elder brother who was supposed to receive the blessing
from his father Isaac but Jacob disguised himself as his brother
and stole the blessing from him. In doing so, Jacob became master
over his brother. Esau became angry and swore to kill Jacob
when his father died (Genesis 27:41). In Genesis 32 we find
that Jacob made preparations to make peace with his brother
Esau. We can learn a few points on making peace from Jacob.
Peacemaking
101 – Make Restitution
Jacob knew that he wronged and hurt his brother, so he tried
to make right his wrong. He knew he needed to take the first
step (Genesis 32). He prepared gifts to give to his brother
Esau. We should also try to take the first step even if the
other party has wronged us.
Peacemaking 102 – Persistent Sincerity
Jacob genuinely sought peace and persisted in his efforts with
Esau (Genesis 32: 18 – 19). He sent gifts ahead to pacify
Esau instructing the servants to tell Esau that these were for
him. He did this three times. When Jacob met Esau, he bowed
down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
By doing so, he persistently humbled himself and acknowledged
Esau to have a status higher than his own.
Peacemaking
103 – The hand of God that changes us
God changes those who are willing to obey Matthew 5: 9 and those
they seek to make peace with. God called Jacob and he had a
mission from God. When we seek to make peace with others, we
must not be discouraged if they do not reciprocate. We should
seek to obey the Lord first and trust Him to lead us through
each situation.
Conclusion
Do you have a grudge with someone? Make peace with them as it
will ultimately affect you spiritually, emotionally and physically.
Prayer
Response:
Dear Jesus, search my heart and reveal to me anyone whom I may
have a grudge, bitterness or hatred against. Enable me to sow
the seeds of peace. Let me take the first step to reconcile
with the person and break any walls that might hinder my relationship
with you. Let me be a peacemaker and be called a child of God.
Amen
Devotional
based on a message by Reverend Joel Yong