"Blessed are the peacemaker's for they will be called the sons of God."
(Matthew 5:9)
What side of the fence are you on? Are you a peacemaker or a peacekeeper? The shameful thing would be if you were somehow straddling the fence!
A peacekeeper looks to maintain peace at all costs. They compromise truth to avoid confrontation and work hard to convince onlookers that nothing is wrong and that nothing bothers them. They are quick to hide from tense situations and bristle at disagreements of any kind. They like the status quo and fake spirituality and humility as a devise to sidestep conflict by any means necessary.
On the other hand, a peacemaker seeks to create peace and will endure hardship, turmoil and adversity to achieve it. They will confront the adversary with truth, no matter what the cost. He will sacrifice relationships and status and social acceptance to maintain his integrity. He hates sin and loves God. His only desire is to point people to Jesus Christ.
How does one become a peacemaker? By fasting! (Isaiah 58:6-14). I am not talking about changing your diet or turning off your TV for two weeks. I am talking serving God's people in the marketplace. A servant's heart is that of a peacemaker (one who is a light bearer and messenger of the gospel of peace, which is the Word of God). Amen...
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for , the evidence of things not seen..."
(Hebrews 11:1)
The paradigm of hope versus faith is a resounding and reverberating clarion call for all Christians and Believers alike to reconcile themselves to the truth of the revelation of how the truth can polarize the most well meaning of folk.
Hope precedes faith but does not and cannot exceed it. The only thing that exceeds faith is "belief." It is written, "As soon as Jesus overheard what was spoken, He immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Don't be afraid, only believe." (Mark 5:36)
Hope resides in the wheel house of fear. Hope takes away your comfort. How do I know this? Most people that are hoping (waiting) for something are rooted and grounded in fear. They are desperate and they have anxiety. They are, in fact, uncomfortable! Hope immobilizes you and makes you complacent whereby you are waiting for someone else to do something for you.
Conversely, faith empowers and engages the individual. Faith looks the "lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life" square in the eyes and declares, "I will not submit to you." Faith is the evidence of the presence of God through the person of the Holy Spirit. Faith is righteousness, holiness, peace, love and joy in the Holy Spirit. Faith corrects me. Faith ties us to adversity (kinship with Christ). Faith matches our thoughts with the mind of Christ (His awesome Word). Faith affirms that Jesus Christ is the standard that I measure my spiritual maturity against.
The conclusion of the matter is this: Hope is an occurrence that is deferred sometime off in the future but faith is now...
The Holy Spirit will not stop His work until I am like Christ! Selah...
