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PROGRAM D-8015

Is there someone in your life right now with whom you are not at peace? I encourage you to become a member of The Jesus Peace Corps—following our Lord’s command to be peacemakers. If there is some conflict between you and another person, have you pursued peace with him or her? Have you at least tried to be a peacemaker, or have you just settled for an absence of conflict—where nothing is resolved between you and you’ve just buried it, hoping it will go away? I’m sorry to tell you—it won’t. Unresolved conflict turns into bitterness, guilt, and inner-turmoil, not peace!

Jesus gave us the method for pursuing peace. He said if you have something against someone—or they have something against you—you should make the first move and go to that person to try to resolve it. Stop talking about it to other people, pray to God about it, and then obey Jesus by making the first move to make peace between you and the other person. Remember to speak the truth in love. Remember that a gentle answer turns away wrath. Go in the right spirit—a humble attitude—but go! Make peace, as far as it depends on you.

When you become intentional about being a peacemaker, you take on the characteristic of our Lord—you become more like Jesus. This, then, becomes a strong witness to the world in which you live. As we live at peace with the people in our world, even though that world may not be at peace, we shine as lights in darkness.

A friend of mine came to saving faith because a coworker lived out this call to be a peacemaker. His peaceful demeanor, his lack of vindictiveness, and his joyful attitude caused her to want to know what made him different. Over a three-month period, they had an on-going conversation in which he shared with her that Jesus was his peace—Jesus made the difference! This made her thirsty for the living water that only Jesus can give. She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior, and now she is sharing that same peace with others, even as she works in a highly competitive and contentious atmosphere.

Are you known as the peacemaker in your world? Not the peacekeeper, but the person who will do the hard work of making peace—whether it’s peace between you and someone else, or between two other people. This is your calling—and mine—to become peacemakers. We have the power of the Holy Spirit to empower us, and we will be blessed by God when we are peacemakers. I invite you today to make sure you’re a part of The Jesus Peace Corps.