Looking for Peace

This week the violence that fell upon Aurora, CO has caused many of us to pray for the victims and their families as well as the family of James Holmes, the suspected gunman behind this tragedy.

Unfortunately, this is nothing new.  The evidence can be traced all the way back to the book of Genesis.  Ever since Adam and Eve sinned, man has been at war.  Our rebellion against God (sin), developed into war against one another.  Cain, jealous of his brother, killed Able.  And so our conflict has continued even to this day.  One might say that man has always been predisposed to conflict.

Some of us have clashed with so many people that we don’t really know how to live peaceably with others.  I have heard of people who are so comfortable with conflict that they are not happy unless they are fighting with someone.

Paul admonished the church in Rome, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” [Rom. 12:18.].  

How do we find peace?  How do we become peacemakers?  Peace is a hard thing to get a hold of… we want peace – peace at home; peace at work; peace in the church…peace everywhere, no war, no conflict, no tragedies. 

In the midst of conflict, Jesus speaks to the Jewish crowds gathered and said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the Sons of God.” [Mt. 5:9].  The Word of God in fact is a book of peace.  Peace means to bring reconciliation between two or more parties that are in conflict.  Man, as I said, has been in conflict with God since the Fall and the Bible is God’s instructions on reconciliation.

For the full message shared on 07-19-12 at First Church of God, Racine, WI go to:
Looking for Peace