Daily Hope Devotional - How to Be a Peacemaker (Part 2)

How to Be a Peacemaker (Part 2)

BY RICK WARREN — APRIL 29, 2017

“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (Philippians 2:4-5 NLT, second edition).

Peacemaking isn’t a well-developed skill in our world today, but it’s a skill that can be learned. In fact, Jesus calls all believers to be peacemakers.

In yesterday’s devotional, I shared three keys to biblical peacemaking. Here are four more:

Listen to the other person’s pain and perspective. You’ll always find hurt in a conflict. How many times have you heard me say, “Hurt people hurt people”? In other words, the more I’m hurting, the more I lash out at everybody else. People who aren’t hurting don’t hurt others. That’s why peacemakers listen to the other person’s hurt and gets that person’s perspective. 

As Francis of Assisi once said, “Seek to understand before you seek to be understood.” The Bible says, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (Philippians 2:4-5 NLT, second edition). That means you’re most like Jesus when you’re focusing on the hurts of somebody else rather than your own hurts.

Speak the truth tactfully. The truth sets you free, but you have to say it with love. The Bible says, “Speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15a NLT). The truth is not enough. It’s not just what you say, but how you say it. If you speak offensively, it will be received defensively. 

God is very specific about the kinds of words that are out of bounds. I call them WMDs — Words of Mass Destruction. These are words that raise the conflict to a whole new level. Angry, hurtful, blaming words are useless. They only stir up more trouble. Colossians 3:8 says, “You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others” (CEV).

Fix the problem, not the blame. You need to learn to attack the issue, not each other. The blame game is a waste of time. Any time you’re busy fixing blame, you’re wasting energy and not fixing the problem.

Focus on reconciliation, not resolution. Reconciliation means re-establishing the relationship. It means you’re not holding onto any hurt. You’ve buried the hatchet. 

Resolution, on the other hand, means you resolve every single disagreement. That won’t happen. We’re all different. We won’t agree on everything. But peacemakers can disagree without being disagreeable. That’s called maturity.

Our world is filled with conflict. Just pick up a newspaper. It’s everywhere: wars, divisions, arguments, stress between people, prejudices and racism, violence, tribalism, and terrorism. Our civilization is no longer civil. And as a result we have broken relationships, broken lives, and broken hearts.

My challenge to you is that you will commit to becoming an agent of reconciliation in a world filled with conflict.

Talk It Over

• Why do you think peacemaking skills are in such short supply right now?
• How can focusing on resolution rather than reconciliation make a problem worse?
• What conflicts in your life are you willing to step into and be a peacemaker? What step can you make this week to make that a reality?
• Discuss these statements in your small group:

• You’re most like Jesus when you’re focusing on the hurts of somebody else rather than your own hurts.
• The blame game is a waste of time. Anytime you’re busy fixing blame, you’re wasting energy and not fixing the problem.
• Peacemakers can disagree without being disagreeable.

CGMG ABOVE ONLY - Jesus: Your Standard for Exploits

Jesus: Your Standard for Exploits

SUNDAY APR. 30

John 14:12, John 21:25 
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. *And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

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Today, God wants you to raise your standard and expectation for the exploits that you will do this year and beyond. His testimony of you is that the same life that is in Christ is also in you, 1John 5:11. Do you believe this testimony? If you do, then you should also believe that you can do exploits in the same way that Christ did. Jesus Himself assured us that because we believe in Him, we will engage in His works and even greater works. Child of God, you are a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. You should let your light so shine before men that they will see your good works and be so amazed that they will glorify your Father in Heaven, Matt.5:14&16.

In Christ, God has made His grace available to you and you now have His sufficiency in every area of your life to abundantly do good works, 2Cor.9:8. He has anointed you with the same Holy Ghost and power that He anointed Jesus with, Acts 10:38. Ephesians 2:10 reveals that we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works.

Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard and minds have not imagined the things God has planned and empowered you to do in Christ. You shall do extraordinary things. Your accomplishments will be out of this world. You will set the pace and blaze the trail in your field and endeavours. You will perform heroic acts and mind blowing feats. You shall do mighty and unbelievable works in every area of your life. You shall do exploits.

FAITH DECLARATION: In Christ I am divinely anointed to do great, extraordinary and unbelievable works just like Christ Himself.

      BIBLE IN ONE YEAR READING PLAN:  PSALM 102-104   Empowered to do Exploits... - See more at: http://www.cgmglobal.org/aboveonly/index.php#sthash.GNXiFp10.dpuf

OUR DAILY BREAD - FOREVER LOVED

Forever Loved

  April 30, 2017  

Read: Psalm 4:1–8 | Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 8–9; Luke 21:1–19

 
 
 
 

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Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself. Psalm 4:3

It’s almost impossible for us to get through a day without being snubbed, ignored, or put down in some way. Sometimes we even do it to ourselves.

David’s enemies were talking smack—bullying, threatening, pummeling him with insults. His sense of self-worth and well-being had plummeted (Ps. 4:1–2). He asked for relief “from my distress.”

Lord, thank You that You assure us that we are loved forever.

Then David remembered, “Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself” (v. 3). Various English versions try to capture the full essence of David’s bold statement by translating “faithful servant” as “godly.” The Hebrew word here, hesed, literally refers to God’s covenant love and might well be rendered “those whom God will love forever and ever and ever.”

Here’s what we too must remember: We are loved forever, set apart in a special way, as dear to God as His own Son. He has called us to be His children for all eternity.

Instead of despairing, we can remind ourselves of the love we freely receive from our Father. We are His dearly beloved children. The end is not despair but peace and joy (vv. 7–8). He never gives up on us, and He never ever stops loving us.

Father in heaven, the words of others can wound us deeply. Your words to us heal and comfort, and You assure us that we are loved forever.

The true measure of God’s love is that He loves without measure. Bernard of Clairvaux

INSIGHT:

How could we not care what others think or say about us? So much in life seems to depend on how others regard us. Maybe David wrote his fourth psalm after hearing rumors that he still thought he had gotten away with murder and with his scandalous affair with Bathsheba. Maybe he was told how others accused him of using his false humility and self-centered spirituality as a cover for his lust for power. As if knowing our own weak points he wrote, “How long will you people ruin my reputation? . . . How long will you continue your lies?” (v. 2 nlt).

The answer doesn’t seem to be what we might have expected. Without explanation, the songwriter seems to be like a television viewer changing channels. Suddenly the issue is no longer how long others are going to say thoughtless things about him, but rather how long his God is going to love him unconditionally—forever. The thought is better than warm milk and a soft pillow. With the love of God filling his heart, the words of enemies fade into silence. How does God’s unconditional love comfort you? 

DCLM DAILY MANNA - DOUBLE PORTION

SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2017

DOUBLE PORTION

-DEUTERONOMY 21:10-17

KEY VERSE:

"But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his" (Deuteronomy 21:17).

In every family, there are some special privileges and rights that every firstborn enjoys. It is generally referred to as birthright, which ascribes to the firstborn the privilege of inheritance. This could vary in form or size from one family to another. In some cases, it could be estates willed to the individuals while in others, it could be a little less than that. But whatever the case, it is expected that the recipient attach utmost importance to it. The first son in Israel had the birthright. This was usually given in a double portion. God commands that whatever the father’s relationship with the mother, whatever scores there are to be settled between a man and his wife, the husband "...shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his" (Deuteronomy 21:17). There are blessings, promises and privileges attached to birthrights. Esau lost the Abrahamic blessings; Reuben, the blessing of lineage of Jesus Christ and Israel the privilege of undertaking special assignments for God which they ceded to the Levites. As Christians and members of the family of God, we have birthrights – promises, privileges and rights. We must be watchful and vehemently resist every temptation to despise and give away our birthright. Because the Levites gave themselves unto the Lord, He also gave Himself unto them. In the New Testament dispensation, believers are partakers of the divine nature and holiness is part of the benefits, promises and privileges. At salvation, we have peace with God when our sins are forgiven; at sanctification, we have the peace of God when the inclination to sin is removed and the adamic nature is purified and purged. The first part of the inheritance is received by confession of faith and the second part by consecration and faith. We should therefore not despise our birthright for temporal need but strive to keep and guard it jealously.

Thought for the day: Do not trade your birthright; it’s doubly packed.

Bible Reading in one Year: 1 CORINTHIANS 15-16

Open Heavens Devotional - SPIRITUAL BLESSING

SPIRITUAL BLESSING – Sunday April 30^th 2017

Memorise: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

Read: Ephesians 1:1-14 (KJV)

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

² Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

⁴ According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

⁵ Having pre-destinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

⁶ To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

⁷ In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

⁸ Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

⁹ Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

¹⁰ That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

¹¹ In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

¹² That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

¹³ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

¹⁴ Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Bible in one year; Numbers 28:29, Jeremiah 23:9-22, Hymn: Sing hymn 6

MESSAGE:

From our memory verse today, we understand that there are physical blessings and there are spiritual blessings. The best way to distinguish between these two categories of blessings is to look at their lifespan. Physical blessings are temporal, while spiritual blessings are enduring and external in nature. An example of a physical blessing is the rain that God sends on all of humanity. Another example is the air we all have access to breathe. Having a wife of a husband also falls under the category of physical blessings, and so also is having children. Both physical and spiritual blessings come from the Lord.

However, the better of these two categories of blessings is spiritual blessings. Spiritual blessings, though manifesting in the physical world, transcend the present age. This is why Apostle Paul wrote in 1^stCorinthians 15:19 thus:

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”

Spiritual blessings cannot be quantified in material or monetary terms. They include the Holy Spirit and His gifts, power and victory over principalities and powers, redemption through the Blood of Jesus, the forgiveness of sins, etc. The crux of all spiritual blessings can be seen in this response of our Lord Jesus Christ to the question about reward for sacrifice which Peter asked Him:

“And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive and hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life

Mark 10:29-30

The spiritual blessing of eternal life crowns the physical blessings we have access to through our fellowship with Christ. No matter how long we live on earth, we shall depart from it one day. The question is, “Where will you spend eternity?”Would it be in Heaven or in Hell? My prayer for you is that you will not spend eternity in Hell in Jesus’ Name.    

Action Point

Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour today, and you will be blessed with spiritual blessings. If you are saved, pray that the Lord will load your life with His spiritual blessings today.

Open Heaven Daily Devotional, written by Pastor E.A Adeboye,

Faith Food Devotions - PRAYER FRUIT

April 30

PRAYER FRUIT

"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." — JOHN 15:7,8

“If ye abide in me . . . .” If we are born again, we do abide in Christ. If Jesus had said that and that alone, we would have had it made, but He continued, “. . . AND my words abide in you . . . .” Jesus’ words abide in us in the measure that they govern our lives — in the measure that we act upon them. If Jesus’ words abide in us, we are bound to have faith, because the Bible says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). It would be impossible for Jesus’ words to abide in someone and that person not have faith!

Unbelief and doubt are a result of ignorance of the Word of God. If we live the Word, then when we come to pray, that Word dwells in us so richly that it becomes Jesus’ Word on our lips. It will be as the Father’s words were on the lips of Jesus.


Confession: I abide in Christ. And His words abide in me. I hide His words in my heart. I believe them. I pray them. When I come to prayer, the Word that dwells in my heart becomes God’s Word on my lips, and it cannot return to God void. It will accomplish what it promises!

OUR DAILY BREAD - When Morning Comes

When Morning Comes

  April 29, 2017  

Read: Hebrews 11:1–8 | Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 6–7; Luke 20:27–47

 
 
 
 

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Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

It was very late when we stopped for the night at a country inn outside of Munich. We were delighted to see that our cozy room had a balcony, although an oppressive fog made it impossible to see into the darkness. But when the sun rose a few hours later, the haze began to fade. Then we could see what had been grimly shrouded the night before—a completely idyllic scene—peaceful and lush green meadow, sheep grazing with tiny tinkling bells about their necks, and big white clouds in the sky that looked exactly like more sheep—huge, fluffy sheep!

Sometimes life can get clouded over by a heavy fog of despair. Our situation may look so dark that we begin to lose hope. But just as the sun burns away a fog, our faith in God can burn away the haze of doubt. Hebrews 11 defines faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (v. 1). The passage goes on to remind us of the faith of Noah, who was “warned about things not yet seen,” yet obeyed God (v. 7). And Abraham who went where God directed—even though he didn’t know where that would be (v. 8).

In moments of doubt, Lord, help us to have the confidence You are in control.

Though we have not seen Him and cannot always feel His presence, God is always present and will help us through our darkest nights. 

Father, thank You for Your promise to walk with us through all of life. In moments of doubt, help us to have the confidence You are in control and we can trust You.

Faith is the radar that sees through the fog. Corrie ten Boom

INSIGHT:

In the generations before the great flood, Abel, Enoch, and Noah responded to the spiritual light they had been given. Abel had his sacrifice received by God in worship, Enoch was taken up into heaven without death, and Noah saved his family from the judgment of the flood. Later Abraham and Sarah were called out of their city to a Promised Land and eventually received a much-awaited child of promise. Hebrews 11 lists men and women of faith who received a positive testimony from God as they set an example in spite of difficulty.

How do these stories of faith help you in your walk with God?