Scripture
Our verse for today comes from James 3:17, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”
Background & Application
Who calls you their child? The next beatitude in Matthew 5 reads, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” Making peace. That’s a concept that rings true around the home, doesn’t it? In the crucible of the family, the battling wills, fragile egos, and ulterior motives sometimes make peace seem out of reach or a distant memory. It’s as if children and peace are Clark Kent and Superman, making it impossible for them to be in the same place at the same time. And it’s not just young children that this applies to. Even adults are somebody’s child, and our wills can be as strong as ten of the most stubborn kids. So how powerful it is that Jesus says that the person who brings peace is called God’s child. God looks on that person and says that he belongs to Me, that he is able to stand alongside Jesus as an heir of God. That’s some heavy stuff. We can taste the fellowship of God’s home and family when we bring peace to a situation.
When there are two sides battling for supremacy, and one of them is usually our own, God says that My child will make the two come together in peace, that two in opposition will become one in resolution. That’s Jesus. He brings the peace of God to the frustrated, defensive, indifferent, insensitive heart that pushes Him away, and says that He has a room for him in His home. He tells us that we don’t have to clamor for our rights or make sure others know when they are wrong. It makes holding grudges and spreading gossip and demanding our way feel like spitting in God’s face, doesn’t it? It makes that little jab or sarcastic remark, pointing out the obvious shortcoming of our spouse or coworker, a little unsettling and quite unnecessary. God’s children make peace, and His family should be peaceful. So, is your life spreading the peace that reflects gloriously of our Father? If someone sees you for their one and only time today, what will they remember?
Charge
As we seek Him today, ask God to forgive us for being quarrelsome, argumentative or contrary while we call it being thorough or exact or specific. Ask God to help us to hold our tongue with one hand and lift Him up with the other. And thank Him for calling us His children.
