FRIDAY JUNE 6
“Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Mt 5:9 NKJV
DON’T
BE A STIR-STICK!
Try to picture these two scenes. First: Christ in
heaven defending you and acting as your advocate before God. “If anybody does
sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ” (1Jn 2:1
NIV). Second: You here on earth, accusing someone. The Bible calls Satan “the
accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night” (Rev
12:10 NIV). Which side are you on?
You say, “But I heard it on the grapevine.” Has it ever occurred to you that
you might not be connected to the right vine? Jesus said, “I am the vine; you
are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit”
(Jn 15:5 NIV). The fruit Jesus referred to here is “good” fruit. He said, “Blessed
are the peacemakers.” And what’s the opposite of a peacemaker? A stir-stick!
These are often people with inner turmoil, unresolved issues, or a chip on
their shoulder who go through life stirring stuff up. When they see a tapestry,
they look for a thread to unravel it. Some do it deliberately, others unwittingly.
When you have little or no joy in your own life, it’s hard to celebrate joy in
the lives of others. To be a peacemaker you must nip conflict, criticism, and
complaining in the bud. Tactfully, steer the conversation in a different
direction. And if need be, talk to the person who is stirring things up. At
best, you’ll help them to change. At second best, they’ll think twice about
what they say to you.
Taken
from the Word for You Today Devotional
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