TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9
Read: Matthew 5:9
Listen: Matthew 5
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Jesus says the peacemakers are blessed and calls his followers into the role of peacemaker. Jesus knows his disciples won’t only have to bring peace to other people’s problems. They will have to be people who bring peace to their own problems and conflicts. One of his followers, the Apostle Paul, puts it this way, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18).
Peacemaking looks many different ways, but it is an active role. A peacemaker apologizes for something they did or said. A peacemaker calls a truce when a situation has escalated too far, whether it is an athletic rivalry with a classmate or a business rivalry with a competitor. A peacemaker accepts an apology and forgives someone. A peacemaker takes the first step.
A good deal of peacemaking is about the heart. When we open our heart to God and ask him to help us become a peacemaker, God wants to meet us in that space.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Ask God to help your heart move toward peacemaking. Pray something like, “God, you know how I feel about ________. You know what we’ve been through. God, I just want to say that I’m ok with you doing something nice for them. Please bless them today.”
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is 1 Corinthians 14.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
