Purposeful Peace

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. – (Matthew 5:9, NIV)

Great blessings belong to those who work to bring peace. God will call them His sons and daughters. – (Matthew 5:9, ERV)

You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. Thant’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family. – (Matthew 5:9, MSG)

When we truly seek the Lord to lead us in His perfect peace, we are equipped and empowered to bring His peace wherever we go. People recognize there is a difference when we operate from a position as a peacemaker, rather than as one who seek only to be right or to be heard. Peacemakers prioritize people. Their mode of operation is loving kindness and grace. Above all else, when we extend God’s peace to those around us, He calls us His own sons and daughters. Our place is in His family, and our hearts begin to more closely resemble His own as we follow after Him. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in His peace in all things, and may we recognize and receive who we are as His beloved children.

Cooperation,

And purposeful peace;

Are brought together,

As grace is released.

The Lord equips us,

To in love, bring peace;

Living with purpose,

His good does increase.

The more we choose love,

As it’s meant to be;

The more peace will spread,

Intentionally.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to be peacemakers. Thank You that as we seek You, You equip and empower us to pass on Your perfect peace to those around us. Forgive us for the times that we have allowed our egos to get in the way of showing love and grace as You intended. Teach us to depend on You to provide wisdom, strength, and peace in all things. Show us how to love those around us in ways that promote Your perfect peace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we love You and those around us, and by Your grace, extend Your purposeful peace wherever we go. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. – Ephesians 2:14

To Love One Another

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” – (Galatians 5:14, NIV)

The whole law is made complete in this one command: “Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” – (Galatians 5:14, ERV)

For all the law can be summarized in one grand statement: “Demonstrate love to your neighbor, even as you care for and love yourself.” – (Galatians 5:14, TPT)

“Love your neighbor as yourself” is a loaded statement. If we truly love our neighbors as we desire to be loved, then we are on the right track. We are not always great at loving as God intended, for we forget or lose sight of the things that define love. In 1 Corinthians 13, love is defined through telling us what love is, and what it is not. Love is patient, kind, protective, trusting, trustworthy, hopeful and perseveres. Love does not envy, boast, dishonor, anger easily, hold grudges, celebrate evil, and is not selfish. When we are patient with those around us, we are showing love. As we choose to extend kindness to others, we are living out love. Protecting those around us who cannot protect themselves is love. Choosing to assume positive intent and being trustworthy are also ways we can show love. Each time we extend hope and choose to persevere, despite obstacles, love is being made tangible to those around us. Will we get this right every time we interact with those around us? No, but the more we choose to operate in love the more we are loving our neighbors as God intended. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in a life of choosing to love well.

To love is to see,

What others might need;

Helping, equipping,

So each may succeed.

To love each other,

As Christ has loved us;

Through choices we make,

Chance to show Jesus.

Lord, help us to show,

What love truly means;

As we love others,

Help Your heart be seen.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You not only command us to love each other, but You show us what it means to do so. Forgive us for every word, thought and deed that has not displayed the love that You call us to give. Help us to seek and rely on You to lead us to love well. Show us how to love each person we encounter where they are at. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek to love others as You intended. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Perfectly Loved

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. – (Matthew 5:48, NIV) 

You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you. – (Matthew 5:48, MSG)

Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete. – (Matthew 5:48, CEB) 

 

When I read “be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”, I cannot fathom doing or being what I ought to become. However, the other two translations grant a bit more clarity as to what is being asked of us. Living generously and graciously toward others, and showing love toward everyone – these are tangibles to work with that are realistic with His help. Being “perfect” is the ongoing pursuit to live a life of love, just as we are loved by God. Though not one of us will get it right 100% of the time, continual pursuit of Him and His help, will lead us to better reflect the Lord through how we live. May we ever seek the Lord and His loving kindness, so that we may go forth and love completely, as we are completely loved. 

 

When we love fully,

Photo by Dee Jones of Open Door Photography ❤

We are doing well; 

To live as we’re asked, 

Of God’s grace, we tell. 

May we choose pursue, 

God’s help in all things; 

So we may reflect, 

The good His love brings. 

Wherever we go, 

Whatever we do; 

Allow His love lead, 

So His light shines through. 

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that “perfect” is the purposeful pursuit of loving completely, as we are completely loved by You. Forgive us for the times that we do not seek You to lead us and equip us to love like You. Teach us to operate in love in all things, so that Your heart will be evident to all. Show us how to love those around us perfectly, as Your love for us is perfect. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek to love as we are loved by You. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

We love because He first loved us. – 1 John 4:19