Category: Spiritual Growth

An Unexpected Sermon on Peacemaking

by Innermost Being, posted in Spiritual Growth

My church is going through a sermon series on The Sermon on the Mount. The scripture for this week’s sermon was from The Beatitudes.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Matthew 5:9

My pastor noted that Jesus did not say, blessed are peace lovers or blessed are peace demonstrators. He said blessed are the peacemakers.

Peacemakers are peace doers. Jesus practiced peacemaking when he healed lepers so they were no longer social outcasts. He made peace when he freed people who were possessed by demons.

Today, Christians spread messages of peace throughout the Christmas season. Peace on earth! Goodwill towards men!

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:14

We don’t say much about peace the rest of the year.

My pastor asked, “Do you know peace today?” My answer to that question is yes and no. God brings me peace, and I am at peace with God. I am at peace with myself. I live in peace with almost everyone because I do absolutely do not like conflict. But I am not at peace with what is going on in the world today. Corruption, deception, and injustice bring distress and unrest to my life, not peace.

My pastor then made an unexpected detour from the Beatitudes to Matthew 10:34-36, where Jesus says that he did not come to bring peace to earth.

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a mother against her daughter, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law–a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.

Matthew 10:34-36

I am very familiar with Matthew 10:34-36. I have reflected on it many times. The sword is the truth of the gospel, and it divides those who believe from those who don’t. When you choose to follow Jesus, you may not be at peace with people who are not following Jesus.  The sword of truth divides the faithful from the unfaithful.

Why this unexpected dissonance? Is Jesus for peace or not? Pastor Bob explained that while God is committed to peace, he is not committed to false peace.

So then, what is false peace? The Munich Agreement of 1938 is an example of false peace. The agreement allowed Hitler to annex part of Czechoslovakia. Neville Chamberlain thought that appeasing Hitler would bring peace. It did not bring peace. It emboldened Hitler.

Appeasement is false peace. Avoiding conflict is false peace. Being afraid to speak up and tell the truth is false peace.

False peace asks very little of us. It doesn’t require bravery. We risk nothing.

Is there false peace in your life? If so, ask God to help you.

Guard my heart and mind

by Innermost Being, posted in Spiritual Growth

Today, I began my day as I often do by reading news. This is not good for my mind and heart. I read about acts of injustice. I read about acts of revenge and cruelty. My heart became troubled and angry. My mind became anxious.

When I opened up my Bible app and began a guided prayer, I read a favorite verse in Philippians:

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

The fourth chapter of Philippians is full of encouragement for believers. Paul continued,

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Lord, fill me with your peace. Guard my heart and mind. Remind me to start my day with you, my Savior. Focus my thoughts on good things – on truth and on love and on the beauty of your creation! I praise your holy name. Amen.

Blessed

by Innermost Being, posted in Spiritual Growth

What does it mean when someone says, ‘I am blessed?’ It may be an expression of gratitude for the good things in life, e.g. for a home, family, and friends. It may also be a way of boasting about what you have while pretending to be humble.

The Greek word for ‘blessed’ is makarios, which also means happy, fortunate, or privileged. Biblically speaking, to be blessed is to be the privileged recipient of God’s favor. It is to be spiritually prosperous.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus turned the world’s meaning of ‘blessed’ upside down. Being blessed isn’t about what you have or what you’ve accomplished. To be blessed is to have the character of a righteous person, a person who is right with God.

The Beatitudes

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

I found additional scripture references to makarios on an Ezra Project post:

  • “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.” Matthew 13:16
  • He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Luke 11:28
  • Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29
  • “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” Revelation 16:15
  • “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:35.

If I am to boast, may I boast only about the Lord.

Thank you, Jesus, for showing me what it means to be blessed. I hunger and thirst for your righteousness.

Prune out the thorns

by Innermost Being, posted in Pursuing God, Spiritual Growth

Where can you reduce clutter in your life?

I associate the word clutter with disorder. I’m a fairly organized person. Clutter is a distraction to me. When things begin to look cluttered in my home, I tidy things up.

Our pastor for family ministries preached on Sunday because the senior pastor had just returned from a mission trip. Skyler had asked the senior pastor if he could use the sermon to introduce us to the practice of Lectio Divina.

Skyler began by explaining how valuable this practice is for hearing what God wants you to hear. Use silence to reflect on God’s word and to open yourself up to his voice.

The scripture for our sermon was the Parable of the Sower found in Matthew 13. I’ve read this parable many times, and it has been the subject of many sermons. Skyler read the parable to us a few times with increasing amounts of silence between the readings.

The first time, we just listened. After another reading, we were to pray and ask God if there was a word or phrase He wanted us to hear. The word that stuck out to me was thorns.

Thorns choke the word, making it unfruitful. I read the word but allow distractions to keep me from really hearing it.

Sometimes, we have to hear a message a few times before it finally sinks in. I’m hearing God tell me to tidy up my spiritual life. Prune out the thorns. Be still. Be silent. Hear my voice.

Lectio
Meditatio
Oratio
Contemplation

Read
Reflect
Respond
Rest

Be Still

by Innermost Being, posted in Spiritual Growth 

Be still and know that I am God.
Quiet your anxious mind and 
know that I am with you.
Let go of your worries.
Let me carry your burdens.

Close your eyes,
take a deep breath,
exhale and feel my presence.
My Spirit is with you.
My Spirit is in you.

Be still and let me be God.
Find refuge under my wings.
I will make your paths straight.
I will lead you beside quiet waters.
I will refresh your soul.

Be still and know that
when you put your trust in me,
you will soar on wings like eagles,
you will run and not grow weary,
you will walk and not be faint.

Be still and know that
I am good - omnibenevolent;
I am everywhere - omnipresent;
I am all-knowing - omniscient;
I am all-powerful - omnipotent.

I AM.