Crisis Avoided

By Gary Fuller, Pastor, Gentle Shepherd Baptist Church, Lincoln, Nebraska, Treasurer, BBFI

Read Matthew 5:9.

In Jesus’ powerful sermon, He admonishes us repeatedly to reach for higher ground. In this instance, the emphasis is on His followers staying above the fray and working toward conflict resolution. 

A drunken sports fan boisterously used foul language behind a chaplain and his wife. Several “asks” to get the man to tone it down were unsuccessful. Finally, the chaplain threatened, “Knock it off, or I’ll throw you off the top of this stadium!” 

Oh, it was on now! Others entered the fray. “It’s football. What do you expect?” “He’s irritating all of us, and he needs to leave!” Things were about to get out of hand when law enforcement arrived to settle the incident. A patrolman slid behind the chaplain and whispered into his ear, “Chaps, think about what is at stake here. I am with you, I get your frustration, but in the end, you represent God, so let us deal with this.” 

That officer was sent to make peace. After an admonishment, apologies, and some slick de-escalation, the game proceeded without incident. That officer has been hailed “a child of God” by that chaplain ever since. 

We live in an irritable, on-edge, and easily offended culture. Temptations to “throw down” arise online, on the roadways, at public events, at work, at school, and even in the home and church. Peace is elusive. Children of God need to avail themselves of opportunities to step into the frays and make peace.

Children of God need to avail themselves of opportunities to step into the frays and make peace. Click To Tweet

It is important for us to know the Prince of Peace intimately. We must strive to experience peace with God and the peace of God. We must pursue being filled with the Holy Spirit, Whose fruit includes peace. When we do this, we can be sensitive to opportunities and ready to act, available to the Lord’s leading for us to act as peacemakers. 

Reflective Questions:

1. What tends to “push your buttons,” making you easily combative? 
2. How have you acted as a peacemaker in the past? What are some real-life examples? 
3. Are you willing to be a Child of God/peacemaker when called upon? This takes a continual submission to the Prince of Peace. 

Memory Verse:

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9 (KJV)

Prayer:

Dear God, help me to be a peacemaker. Help me to see when the emotions in a situation are escalating and give me the boldness to step in as a peacemaker. Thank you that I can have peace because of my relationship with You. Help me to share with others how they, too, can have peace with You. 

Related Scriptures

Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 8:14; James 3:17; Psalm 120:6; Romans 12:18; II Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 4:1