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Blessed are the peacemakers:
for they shall be called the children of God.
(Matthew 5:9)
Peace! Peace! Cries our restless age; but there is no peace. Whichever way we look, we see the world filled with strife, hate, war, and bloodshed. And yet there is a glorious League of Peace, founded by God Himself, which has its societies among all the nations and peoples of the inhabited globe and whose meek and gentle members make peace wherever they go. Being justified by faith, they have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and now consecrate themselves to serve the Prince of Peace.
Christians make peace between man and God. They go with, or send, the Gospel of peace into the hovels of the poor, the prisons, the business centers, or the quiet villages of civilization. They send it into the benighted heathen countries and everywhere proclaim: "... that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself... Now then we are ambassadors for Christ... we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God" [2 Corinthians 5:19-20] They make peace between man and man. Wherever opportunity offers, they will allay strife between quarreling brethren and bring them the blessings of concord and unity. Though for this labor of love they are criticized, slandered, and mocked, they continue unwearied in their peacemaking efforts; for they are the "children of God." Like father, like child. Their God and heavenly Father is a God of peace; they, His sons and daughters, cannot be otherwise. Filled with His Spirit, they approve themselves God's peacemakers in the world.
How about us? Are we satisfied with merely keeping the "public peace," or do we, as true children of God, conduct ourselves as peacemakers in our daily surroundings? May the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus; and in the power of His Holy Spirit may we approve ourselves blest peacemakers all the days of our life!
Thou hast bought me with Thy blood,
Opened wide the gate to God;
Peace I ask; but peace must be,
Lord, in being one with Thee.
May Thy will, not mine, be done;
May Thy will and mine be one;
Chase these doubtings from my heart;
Now Thy perfect peace impart.
Savior, at Thy feet I fall;
Thou my Life, my God, my All!
Let Thy happy servant be
One forevermore with Thee!
Benediction
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
Amen.
[devotion text by Rev. F. W. Herzberger (1920) -
from the Family Altar - CPH (1957 edition)]
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