Peace!

January 16, 2023 Monday Message:

Matthew 5:9 NLT, Jesus speaking: “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.”

This scripture is not describing those who live in peace, or who know the peace that passes all understanding. These peacemakers are those who work for peace between people, countries and religions. They are anti-unjustified war. They are actively participating, striving for peace, so mankind can live without fear.

My father fought in WWII. By the time the US entered the fray, Hitler had overtaken most of Europe, so we were a little late to the party. The peacemakers fought long and hard to stop Hitler’s unbridled aggression.

As I became an adult, the US was engaged in the Vietnam conflict. The goal was to derail the communist offensive, but many in the US didn’t understand why we were fighting this war. John Lennon sang, “Give peace a chance.” Seems like that’s what Jesus wanted too.

My naïveté surfaced when Putin invaded Ukraine. Somehow I thought that all the land in the world had been divided up, and it would stay that way. Perhaps we wouldn’t have to fight over such things any more. This current war may seem more cruel and overly destructive because we can follow it daily on our TV’s. Russia is actually fighting the US and western values, but on Ukraine’s soil.

Perpetrators of war are evil, working for Satan. The evil was obvious as targets became hospitals, schools and residential apartments. If this death and destruction continues, Putin will overtake a country with nothing left standing!

Children of God are those who have received Jesus as their Savior and apparently peacemakers!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship