Being a Peacemaker

Thanks to Adam and Eve and their "fall", we are all hardwired with certain tendencies that aren't so pretty and sweet. One tendency is to get angry. But, thanks to Jesus and His sacrifice, He gave us a higher standard. He calls us to be peacemakers — not just peacekeepers. Peacekeepers usually avoid conflict, but peacemakers resolve conflict and reconcile relationships.

We need a world of peacemakers! And, that includes you and me. The Bible promises this: “Those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness” (James 3:18). We planted a lot of seed on our Oklahoma ranch. We had huge vegetable gardens and we found that planting a few seeds could yield a bumper crop. We also had an apple orchard that started from a few apple seeds. Those good seeds resulted in many apple trees and delicious apples that made the best pies and jams. It’s the law of sowing and reaping. The same is true in planting seeds of anger and hate or peace and love. If we plant seeds of hate, we’ll reap anger, bitterness and trouble. But the Bible says if we plant seeds of peace, we will reap a harvest of peace, kindness, and goodness in return.

One of the most important life skills we will ever learn is conflict resolution. Let’s consider a bitter argument between a husband and wife. Someone must make the first move toward peace. I remember sleeping on the far edge of our bed because I wasn't about to start the peace conversation. I waited for my husband to make the first move. These many years later, I found the better person is the one who takes the initiative to resolve conflict and make amends.

Jesus took the initiative to show mercy to us. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Romans 5:8,10). Jesus didn’t wait for us to apologize. He didn’t even wait for us to feel bad about our behavior. Jesus made the first move. And he wants us to do the same thing. He wants us to call for Peace Summits – where the expected result is always peace!

I know this blog today comes from God's prompting to me. More than anything, He wants us to live in peace with each other. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) Being a peacemaker is one who doesn’t come forward with accusations and ways they've been hurt or speaking about whose fault it was. Peacemakers start with humility – “I apologize for anything I did or said that created this conflict. Will you please forgive me? Jesus made the first move -- shouldn't we?

The Apple Didn't Fall Far From the Tree

I amused myself yesterday when I saw these three apples in a bowl at the Wuerch's home. I remembered that phrase we use when we see a parent and children look-alike and we declare, "The apple didn't fall from the tree!" That implies that it's obvious who the parents are and who those children belong to. They may have so many resemblances -- in looks, personalities and even, abilities. That's what I thought about when I saw this super-sized apple, the medium one and the little one!

I understand that the apple is considered the king of fruit. I know it’s hard to believe, but inside those apples are trees filled with apples. Just think about it…one small seed has the power to produce a beautiful tree that provides incredible amounts of delicious and healthy fruit.

Years ago my mother and father in law had a huge apple orchard on the 10 acres they owned in Oklahoma. Oh, how we loved those apples and the apple pies, apple salads, apple tarts and apple jams Mom made with them. But in time the apple orchard became diseased and before long.....no more apples. That's what happened when Dad became very ill and the many years of attention and TLC that he once gave that orchard, just wasn't possible any more.

But, like those tiny seeds in those apples that could ultimately produce an apple tree, Dad had "mustard seed" faith for his return to good health. He suffered from Mesathemolia and Lymphona cancer and his doctor said, "Barring a miracle, you won't live beyond six months." But, Dad, a theologian and Bible scholar AND knew God's Word, and that it was full of miracle stories, so much so, that he remembered King Hezekiah's plea for his health to return after having been told that he was going to die. But, Hezekiah prayed to the Lord in 2 Kings 20:3 "Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And, he immediatly received a reply from God that said, "I have heard your prayer. I will heal you and will add fifteen years to your life." That story gave Dad everything he needed to plead his case also. He had been a faithful, devoted servant of God for way over 50 years, so, he, too, asked for 15 more years, like King Hezekiah received. And, THAT is the story of Dad. He asked and he received 15 more years, almost to the day he asked.

Then there's my precious Mama who sacrificed so much for me to make ends meet and live a life of audacious faith, joy, peace and hope. She had every reason to complain, but just didn't. Indeed, I pray that "my apple didn't fall far from her tree either"!

And, that's what I'm staking my life upon, too. Though Dad wasn't my biological father, he was as dear to me as though he were. Since my Dad passed away when I was just 15 years old, I needed an Apple Tree to resemble. I wanted that kind of faith. I wanted to look like that and act like that. I want to resemble my sweet Mama's Apple Tree, too. That's the kind of faith my sweetheart and I had for his healing. Though he didn't get many more years like Dad did, we still did what we knew to do by believing, not doubting, by trusting, not complaining and by standing strong on God's Word. God said it and that was good enough for us. The fact of the matter is this, we all have the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords as our perfect APPLE TREE. Don't you want folks to say "You look and act just like your DAD? Your apple didn't fall far from the APPLE TREE at all!!