Peace is an elusive thing in the world and it always has been. The balance has always been upset by humans, greedy for power and resources, who have robbed others of their land, their possessions, their dignity, and their peace.
Attempts at attaining peace have somehow always required a war, with massive carnage, usually on both sides.
But winning a war does not bring lasting peace and it never has. Why? The answer lies in the difference between a peacekeeper and a peacemaker.....so what is the difference...and does it matter?
In this day and age when the need for peace has never been greater, we see the world's most powerful nations fronting up for a war in the middle of a pandemic...over what? Territory again. There is a trading of insults and national pride means that no one will back down. As if the world hasn't been through enough already, we are going to see more armed conflict with more sophisticated weapons, and more carnage.
The UN has had 'peacekeeping' forces in war torn countries for decades, but 'peacekeepers' with weapons and tanks can hardly be a force for true peace. If all a peacekeeper has is a big stick, then a man with a bigger stick is going to either ignore him or take him down.
What the world needs is "peacemakers"....these are people who have peace in their hearts and who will never harm a soul no matter what is done to them. They actively pursue this inner peace at all costs by not allowing themselves to be robbed of it. 'They do not return evil for evil, and they conquer evil with good.' (Romans 12:17-21)
Does this describe your brotherhood?
Christ's followers are recognized by the traits he outlined in his Sermon on the Mount....
“Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the Kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.
4 “Happy are those who mourn, since they will be comforted.
5 “Happy are the mild-tempered, since they will inherit the earth.
6 “Happy are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, since they will be filled.
7 “Happy are the merciful, since they will be shown mercy.
8 “Happy are the pure in heart, since they will see God.
9 “Happy are the peacemakers, since they will be called sons of God.
10 “Happy are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, since the Kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.
11 “Happy are you when people reproach you and persecute you and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake. 12 Rejoice and be overjoyed, since your reward is great in the heavens, for in that way they persecuted the prophets prior to you." (Matthew 5:3-12)
Their "Happiness" comes from within despite external pressures. No one can take it from them.
What qualities do you see in his words that will make Christ's true followers into "peacemakers"?
They will not be part of the world's political or religious conflicts, and they will be at peace with all men...even those who hate them and persecute them. (Matthew 5:43-45)
I believe that the final showdown on this earth is not far away, and soon now we will see Christ step in to hold the peace disrupters to account. The pushing and shoving of the the current world powers may very well lead to God's great final war of Armageddon. Only then can true peace be seen on this earth, because only the true peacemakers will remain.
(Revelation 21:2-4)
Time will tell.....
Attempts at attaining peace have somehow always required a war, with massive carnage, usually on both sides.
But winning a war does not bring lasting peace and it never has. Why? The answer lies in the difference between a peacekeeper and a peacemaker.....so what is the difference...and does it matter?
In this day and age when the need for peace has never been greater, we see the world's most powerful nations fronting up for a war in the middle of a pandemic...over what? Territory again. There is a trading of insults and national pride means that no one will back down. As if the world hasn't been through enough already, we are going to see more armed conflict with more sophisticated weapons, and more carnage.
The UN has had 'peacekeeping' forces in war torn countries for decades, but 'peacekeepers' with weapons and tanks can hardly be a force for true peace. If all a peacekeeper has is a big stick, then a man with a bigger stick is going to either ignore him or take him down.
What the world needs is "peacemakers"....these are people who have peace in their hearts and who will never harm a soul no matter what is done to them. They actively pursue this inner peace at all costs by not allowing themselves to be robbed of it. 'They do not return evil for evil, and they conquer evil with good.' (Romans 12:17-21)
Does this describe your brotherhood?
Christ's followers are recognized by the traits he outlined in his Sermon on the Mount....
“Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the Kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.
4 “Happy are those who mourn, since they will be comforted.
5 “Happy are the mild-tempered, since they will inherit the earth.
6 “Happy are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, since they will be filled.
7 “Happy are the merciful, since they will be shown mercy.
8 “Happy are the pure in heart, since they will see God.
9 “Happy are the peacemakers, since they will be called sons of God.
10 “Happy are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, since the Kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.
11 “Happy are you when people reproach you and persecute you and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake. 12 Rejoice and be overjoyed, since your reward is great in the heavens, for in that way they persecuted the prophets prior to you." (Matthew 5:3-12)
Their "Happiness" comes from within despite external pressures. No one can take it from them.
What qualities do you see in his words that will make Christ's true followers into "peacemakers"?
They will not be part of the world's political or religious conflicts, and they will be at peace with all men...even those who hate them and persecute them. (Matthew 5:43-45)
I believe that the final showdown on this earth is not far away, and soon now we will see Christ step in to hold the peace disrupters to account. The pushing and shoving of the the current world powers may very well lead to God's great final war of Armageddon. Only then can true peace be seen on this earth, because only the true peacemakers will remain.
(Revelation 21:2-4)
Time will tell.....