Live for Peace

From The Sermon on the Mount...
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9 (NASB)

Peace is important to God. "Peace" appears 361 times in the New Living Translation and 400 times in the old Kings James translation. That is a lot of peace, but many of those verses deal with the sacrificial peace offerings as described in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, as well as other books in the Old Testament. Peace is that quality and attitude where there is a freedom from stress, turbulence or anxiety. It is that feeling of prosperity, tranquility and safety. It was assumed to be the political position when the Messiah arrived, but we know that it was surely a state of mind...not a political quality when Jesus arrived on earth. Jesus was teaching that crowd on the hillside above the Sea of Galilee that they needed to be peacemakers--seeking peace. Actually, not just seeking peace for themselves, but to be peacemakers--spreading and encouraging peace with others. Here are a few verses that encourage peace.
     - Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. Psalm 34:14
     - In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8 (NASB)
     - The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace. Psalm 29:11 (NASB)
     - Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble. Psalm 119:165 (NASB)
     - For the sake of my brothers and my friends, will now say, "May peace be within you." Psalm 122:8 (NASB)
     - Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace. Proverbs 3:17 (NASB)
     - When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7 (NASB)
     - A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:8 (NASB)
     - LORD, You will establish peace for us, since You have also performed for us all our works. 
Isaiah 26:12 (NASB)
     - And the work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. Isaiah 32:17 (NASB)
    - For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12 (NASB)
These verses encourage us to seek peace--to pursue it. I certainly want peace in my life. How about you?

And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:18
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Romans 14:17-19

Claim that promise of being a peacemaker--and you will be a son or daughter of God.

The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace. Numbers 6:26 (NASB)

Prayer ~ Lord God, where there is contention and strife with others...give me grace to help them to solve their differences...to seekYour peace in their lives.

Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 27-29

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© 2018 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted

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