Thank you again for taking a few moments to read this week's message. I hope that you are all doing well. I am feeling fairly well.
Last week, we started a new series of messages dealing with some of the Biblical teachings on peace. We saw that that Bible tells us that we are to seek peace and pursue it. In today's message, I want us to learn about being a peacemaker and seeking peace by following the teachings we find about peace and non-violence in the message given to us by the Lord Jesus.
Jesus was the promised Prince of Peace. We can say without question that He is and was the man of peace. His teachings would bring peace if they were followed in this world, and when people accept Him into their lives as Savior and Lord they will find a peace that passes all understanding.
Jesus spoke about His way of peace and confronting injustice in His teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus wanted us to live in peace and seek justice, but He has called His followers to do so in a non-violent way.
One of Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount that surprises people is that He ended the Old Testament practice of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. We find Jesus' statement in Matthew 5:38-39 that states, "You have heard that it was said an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But, I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."
Jesus knew that if we keep retaliating against each other in a violent manner, war will continue and continue until the entire world is destroyed. Jesus told us to turn the other check and to go the extra mile. He told us that we are to love our enemies and to do good to those who spitefully use us.
Does this mean that to be a person that seeks the way of peace we are to do nothing in the face of oppression and injustice? Absolutely not! We are to resist and overcome what is evil, but the Lord calls us to do so in a non-violent way. As Jesus told His followers, we are to put away the sword. Jesus said that those who live by the sword will die by the sword.
We are to positively promote peace and justice in the world by acting in love to overcome evil. We are to resist non-violently. We are to do good to all and help everyone that we can in the name of Jesus. We are to overcome evil by living out the Golden Rule as well as the Great Commandment. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Many of the great social and political changes in our world have come about when people acted through non-violent civil disobedience. In my country, the Civil Rights Movement led by Dr. King used non-violence to advocate for rights that had been unjustly denied. By people working together non-violently, great changes were made.
In India, Gandhi promoted the way of non-violence through His readings of Jesus. He resisted unjust treatment and advanced the cause of independence, but He didn't advocate that it be done violently. He non-violently resisted the unjust policies of colonialism.
Christians are called to be peacemakers and to make a positive difference in this world. We do so by loving others and by helping this world to be a better place. We follow the Lord Jesus fully, and we turn away from revenge and retribution.
As I've mentioned before, two things would go a long way towards bringing peace to this world. First of all, if more people turned to Jesus, I believe that we would have more peacefulness in the world. Second, if those who claimed to know Jesus would really follow what He taught, we would have less violence and peace. It greatly disturbs me when I hear and see people who name the name of Jesus out fighting and killing one another. Jesus taught a different way.
Let us all work to follow the way of love and peace. Let us tell others about Jesus and His way. Let us always follow the way of Jesus and not the way of the world. Amen.
Prayer Requests
I want to thank the Lord that I didn't have any damage at my house from the bad winds the other night. I am feeling some better.
Please keep praying for those who are recovering from storms and flooding. I am especially thinking of those in Spain.
Remember to keep praying for an end to disease outbreaks in the world. I heard on the news a couple of days ago that mpox is still bad in Africa.
Keep praying for peace. Pray for peace in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Sudan and Haiti. Pray for the release of the hostages and pray that humanitarian aide will reach those who need it in all war ravaged areas.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Malaysia and Oman. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, we will take a short break from our series, and I will post a message on the theme of giving thanks as it is the Thanksgiving holiday season here in the US. I will post the verses on Monday. May God bless you all.
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