Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. Unedited. The prompt this week is … Achieve.
When I first saw the word prompt, I thought, “I don’t think I’ll have a post this week” and headed to bed.
One line in my devotional this morning struck me deeply: “Help me to be a peacemaker in a divided world.”
This one line had me asking the question of myself: How do we achieve peace in this divided world?
The question brought a smile as I immediately remembered “achieve” is the word prompt.
We will never achieve peace with arguments or debates. Differences of opinions will always abound and on every subject.
Yet this world, the Church, is in need of peace now more than ever.
The answer came in the form of two Scriptures weaving their way through my thoughts, and I quickly opened my Bible to read those words before me:
“For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.” (Ephesians 6:15, NLT)
In another version are the words “the gospel of peace“ (NASB).
The Gospel is our only hope of peace. May we know God’s Word, be equipped by His Word, and have His words of truth in our hearts and minds to share and encourage those in our lives.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9, NASB)
Suddenly the answer to my question became a little clearer.
We achieve peace by being what we are called to be –
sons and daughters of God,
peacemakers.
Photo by Dagmara Dombrovska on Unsplash
Today I am joining …
I carry my ol’ Peacemaker
strapped unto my hip,
a ticket to the undertaker
for those who’d give me lip,
and thus goes on the circle
that we know so well,
and though it’s not purposeful,
it spirals right to hell.
Can I one day take off the belt,
and walk the earth in peace?
If I made this how I truly felt,
would I find release
from shackles forged dim year on year
of my heavy iron fear?
I’ve been told in reference to the be attitudes that we are not called to try but to be. God has already infused us with what we need to be what He would have us be. I think that applies to your message today. We are called to make peace. In John 14:27 God says He gives us peace. It is our charge to just be. Allow that peace He has given to overflow and that will impact the world. One person at a time.
This is so powerful, Joanne, “We achieve peace by being what we are called to be ”“
sons and daughters of God, peacemakers.”
I like this take on the prompt. Peace would be a great thing to achieve and it’s so true that the Gospel is our only hope.
Good take on the prompt! Great how everyone takes a different angle isn’t it?
How, indeed, can we achieve peace unless we become peacemakers?
Just popped by from FMF #14
Very important words for today. We are in a time and place in history that is desperate for peace!
What a powerful thought from one simple prompt. Our world is in such need of peace. Our homes, our families, communities, churches, and the list goes on. As Christians, we know the One who offers genuine peace, and, yes, we must be the peacemakers. I was so encouraged by your post this afternoon!
I loved the photo and I loved the blog. It is so very true. We who have become sons and daughters of Jesus are called to be peacemakers. We can only achieve peace in a dark world through Jesus’s â¤ï¸Terri
Haha, I also thought I wouldn’t be posting this week when I saw the prompt, and unlike you, I still haven’t thought of anything to write.
Seriously though, I like your take on it.
Thanks for sharing.
i think i would have had the same response and headed off to bed, too! i don’t see myself as an achiever and this word keeps appearing these days.
maybe God’s trying to whisper something?
Keeping the peace is something we seem to have forgotten in all the debates over everything the last couple of years. While we seek to be right in our understanding and opinions, we need to seek unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ as well.
YES!! I am currently reading Christians in the Age of Outrage by Ed Stetzer, and while he doesn’t say it in the same way, the meaning is the same. We are not going to achieve peace by seeing who can shout the loudest! Thanks for sharing.