Pastor Mark Fuller
When you’re not sure what God’s will is; listen to the world’s counsel, then do the opposite.
Matthew 5:9-10 (NLT)
- Peacemaking is hard, unappreciated, and often seemingly unproductive work. But Jesus says it is what identifies us as God’s kids.
Keys to Peacemaking:
- Be at Peace with God and Yourself
- Job 22:21 (NLT)
- Listen More Than You Talk
- James 1:19 (NLT)
- It’s hard to be a good listener because of how emotionally charged issues have become. We feel threatened when we encounter opposing views or ways of thinking that we don’t agree with. By holding space for someone else’s ideas, even when they differ from your own, you’ll begin building bridges to the path of peace rather than burning them down.
- Be Genuinely Interested In Other People
- Philippians 2:4 (NLT)
- Become interested in other people’s ideas, even ideas you strongly disagree with. Seek to understand their positions so well that you can repeat them concisely and convincingly. You don’t have to agree with people for them to feel heard. The peacemaker understands this and uses it to help them build relationships and trust.
- Don’t Be Afraid of Conflict
- Conflict is not a bad thing. Responding to conflict in the right way can produce great unity. When we try to avoid conflict at all costs, we only exacerbate the problem. So many conflicts are caused by unsuccessful attempts at preventing conflict. Conflict is not an obstacle to peace, it’s the wrong kind of conflict that can lead to damaged relationships.
- Ephesians 4:14-15 (NLT)
- If you want to be a peacemaker, you must be willing to state your position clearly and unambiguously and allow others to do the same.
- Even if you endure the discomfort from conflict in the short term, you can ultimately create conditions that will lay the foundation for peace.
- Respond Rather Than React
- When we’re reactive, we’re in a state of constant fight or flight mode. Responding means creating the space within ourselves that removes the false immediacy of needing to say or do something right now. When we decide how to respond, we choose how we want to show up in the world in a way that is empowering and builds up everyone involved.
- Stay Humble and Teachable
- James 4:6 (NLT)
- Peacemaking is hard work. You will always find opportunities to mess up. And others will too. Knowing this ahead of time can allow you to be more understanding and forgiving when something goes wrong.
- Matthew 5:10 (NLT)
- Jesus knew that in this fallen world, persecution would be the response when we work to make peace. This fallen world system often crucifies peacemakers.
- If you've felt wronged, stepped on, or worse, don't wait for others to apologize. Choose an attitude of preemptive forgiveness. Forgive others. Forgive yourself. Ask for forgiveness. We all need constant and copious amounts of God's grace. The good news is, that it is in abundant supply because of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf.
- Be at Peace with God and Yourself
- Moved from resignation, to acceptance, and now beginning to discover the peace that from embracing this season. That is when the blessing came, and I am discovering fruitfulness in this challenging season.
- Job 22:21 (NLT)
- Submitting to God means to surrender. It's one of our main values here at the Naz. It means surrendering your rights and control over your life.
- The world identifies surrender with words like defeat, failure, and bondage. But this is the amazing reality about Jesus' upside-down kingdom.
- When you surrender to Him, you discover just the opposite: victory, purpose, and freedom. I'm talking about a glad surrender, not a resignation type of surrender. It is a confident “embracing" of His permissive will, whatever it brings because you are convinced of His goodness and love. That's the place of real peace. And that's the place of real blessing.
