“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” -James 3:17-18
What are you spreading? When the world looks at you, what do they see? If you’re a Christian, you are a living, breathing, walking ambassador for the Prince of Peace, Jesus. As you walk through life and encounter family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and even strangers… are you spreading more hatred and division, or love and peace?
As Christians, we are called to spread peace wherever we go. This might be as simple as offering a heartfelt compliment, smiling more often, or taking the time to listen to someone who’s upset. One thing I know for certain is that if my peaceful words don’t align with my actions, nobody will see me as an ambassador for peace. So, living peaceably might mean setting aside my pride and letting someone else have the last word, or giving others the benefit of the doubt when challenges arise. Another avenue of peacemaking might be encouraging others on a path towards reconciliation, or being the first one to apologize, seek forgiveness, and forgive others freely. While it may be hard to set aside my self in the moment, I never regret my peaceful actions – in fact, they often make me feel lighter, happier, and more in line with God’s will for my life.
I’ve found that spending a few minutes in quiet devotion and prayer each morning helps me cultivate a peaceful attitude that lasts throughout the day. If I skip my morning time with Jesus, I usually end up feeling rushed, tense, anxious… the opposite of peaceful. When my heart and mind are not filled daily with God’s truth, lies and deception will quickly fill the void.
I would encourage and challenge you to start each day in God’s word, even if it’s simply opening the Bible app on your phone to read the “verse of the day”. Rooting myself in Biblical truths each morning helps keep my mind steadfast and my heart at peace. This routine prepares me to move forward as the Prince of Peace’s ambassador in my community. When I experience God’s peace in my own heart, I start to exude God’s peace, and my little corner of the world is a better place because of it.
Pray about this: What needs to change about your attitude so that you can live as an ambassador of peace this week?
