Blessed Are the Raging?

Well, actually, Jesus said "Blessed are the peacemakers" and of course there's plenty of God's Word in both Testaments calling us to both live in and to work for peace.

Peace with God in our own life comes first because without it one cannot sow the seeds of genuine peace that can only come from a faith/obedient/serving relationship with God in Christ.

Oh, plenty of people on earth work for peace who are themselves atheists or agnostics, but I'm talking about the peace Jesus both brings and calls us to plant as His followers in every sphere and at every level.

Selflessness and not striving for mere personal gain is a whole 'nother animal because selfishness and striving for personal gain often feeds and promotes rage. Further, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is self-control which creates and grows another fruit: peace.

Peace isn't simply about people agreeing with you or me. Read that again please!

For most of my years I've tried to shout out that faith and obedience to God and His commands are not and must not be divorced from one another. Peace with God is very much linked to peace with one's neighbors regardless of who they are -Jesus shed His blood for all (Hebrews and others state such in God's Word!) so the idea that we somehow have the right to -demand- in a mean, harsh attitude that THEY change and think as we do "or else" is not God's calling for any preacher, author or professing Christ-follower. It really is as simple as that. Or not -because the truth is we get tempted to blast away in words, tone of voice, keyboard "warrior" memes and such don't we?

I'm not saying we absolutely must agree with others at all times, nor that we must never speak truth to power or pretend others aren't wrong (as we are at times...) but the Spirit of God is continually focused on reconciliation between ALL of us and Him in Christ. Grace...

Hmmmm, I want grace and peace... am I sowing it? If we reap what we sow perhaps peace is what we should be planting.

As always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn