The Peacemakers

The Colt Peacemaker revolver was named for the sentiment that an armed society was a polite society. The presence of a Colt revolver was thought to discourage troublemakers from picking a fight. The Colt Peacemaker was also seen as an equalizer for women, the elderly, and those who were physically smaller.

In a warped sense, the very instrument of violence was thought to bring about peace.

But Christ talked of a different peacemaker. Men and women who are empathetic to others.

The peacemaker initiates reconciliation when others have wronged them. The peacemaker is also quick to repent when they have wronged others. In a world, where we have been discipled to avoid conflict, peacemaking takes a commitment to move toward it.

The human peacemaker does not enforce peace with the threat of violence but brings about peace with love.

When we contemplate the profound words of Jesus in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God,” we understand the inheritance that peacemakers receive – the kingdom of heaven itself.

Temptation is Beautiful

Good for the Eyes, Bad for the Soul (Adapted from the KJV Devotional) 

“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise…” Genesis 3:6 KJV

Satan never lures people with repulsive bait, but he always uses things that appeal to our greatest desires. The truth is that God has already provided everything that we need, but Satan incites a dissatisfaction that began in the Garden of Eden. He creates counterfeits of God's blessings and falsely presents that he can give even more, as in the case of Eve and the forbidden tree. The tree was not just pleasant to look at and with good fruit to eat, but it offered something extra—it seemed to make one wise. But in the end, what the devil offers may look good, but it is always destructive to one's soul.

Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

 

Stories To Tell

"But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds".
Psalm 73:28

"Looking back on life, we observe countless moments when God has intervened in our lives or the lives of others. He bestows upon us numerous blessings and miracles beyond our understanding. We each have a story to tell and a witness to share. We will shout praises to God from the mountaintops and continue to look for opportunities to tell all we meet about the mighty works of the Lord". Pastor David Jacobs. 

These stories could be of protection from our own or others mistakes or from health issues or about healing; they be could of provision when all sources were finished. Different people will have different stories and each story can be an inspiration to someone somewhere. Sharing it is also a thanksgiving for deliverance, as we let our life itself become a witness.

Today we urge you to share your story. Send it to us so we can share it with others. You can do so anonymously as well. Even if you don't want to do that, we encourage you to share it in your church group or fellowship.

Our mail is id thisweekwithjesus@gmail.com.

Our Legacy

                

I cannot forget a Book by Robin Sharma called "Who will cry when you die". The title inspired me to think, and often I ask myself the same question: who will cry when I die? Maybe not literally, but who will genuinely grieve? 

Apart from my family and a couple of friends, I really can't count any. We are so involved with self and careers and God knows what else, we forget to carve out a legacy of good which can live on after us. But why should we? 

Because "Life" is not a career; life is not about just us. There is nothing wrong about doing things for us but that is not the end. Life is the means to the end but life is living in harmony with the world around us. Taking care of the world and people around us. Using our talents wisely for the benefit of others. Thats how we can create a legacy. 

Creating a legacy is about making a lasting impact that transcends your lifetime. It involves living with intention and purpose, and making contributions that benefit others

Hebrews 13:16 says "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased".

Everything we have comes from above. Do we even stop to give thanks? Do we share it with others? Do we become a channel of His blessing and grace to others? Do we even want anyone to remember us?  

Note the word "sacrifices" and "sharing" in the verse.  

Pastor Rajiv has already talked about sacrificial giving or sharing in earlier posts and clearly defined what it means to give and more so, what is sacrificial giving. 

Careers and material things will end one day as will life itself. What will last will be the legacy we leave. Can we start creating it today? 

True Power!

The celebrated Scottish preacher, James Stewart, made a statement explaining ....: "It is always upon human weakness and humiliation, not human strength and confidence, that God chooses to build His Kingdom; and that He can use us not merely in spite of our ordinariness and helplessness and disqualifying infirmities, but precisely because of them."

This fact actually transforms our mental attitude toward our circumstances.

Our cribbing and self-pity over issues we face, weaknesses we have and lack of resources, all fade away once we acknowledge all and yet commit to being ready to serve. We maybe financially broken, physically challenged or mentally destroyed, yet we are of use in His kingdom. How we will be used is left to Him.

Let's take a look at some of our Biblical greats who served God. As a leader, Moses need to be a great speaker yet he couldn't speak straight. Jacob was deceptive. Abraham, too old to father a child, begot a nation. Did you know Elijah was suicidal? The great Gideon started as a coward and ended as a conqueror. Samson was a womanizer. Rahab was a prostitute. David was an adulterer and murderer. Job was bankrupt. Noah was a drunk. In fact, he is the first drunkard mentioned in the Bible. Yet God used them all magnificently! 

True Power therefore, does NOT lie in our human achievements, competencies or knowledge but in the shadow of the most high. 

Throughout scripture we see God using imperfect people for the sake of his perfect mission. The weakest become the strongest.   

Pastor Chuck Swindoll comments thus - "Once you are convinced of your own weakness and no longer trying to hide it, you embrace the power of Christ".

Thus, in our weakness we become powerful, all powerful through the power of Christ.

Where are we today? Weak and broken? Jobless? We still have opportunity and time to donate to God. Living in a country where religion is banned? Here is opportunity to share hope. Let us not use our weakness as an excuse. 

Let us use it as our power, received from God to serve God and humanity.

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What part of the word did you put into practice today?

Joshua 1: 7-9

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

What part of God's word did you put into practice today?

You have read your Bible, said your prayers, meditated and possibly taken notes as well. Of all God's word that we read and quote, which ones have we actually put into practice? It is important because that "practice" is called obedience. And that is what the quoted verse is talking about.

Second, let us not interpret Gods word, because we often interpret it to suit ourselves. For example, a lie is a lie. It's not a small lie, nor a big lie, nor a harmless lie, and so on. As the quoted scripture says, " do not turn from the word to the left or to the right".

The motivation to "bend" the word is often fear. Following Gods word has its own responsibilities which can overwhelm us. For example, telling the truth about something may get us into temporary trouble or discomfort. Most people who get pulled up for speeding will deny and argue, to avoid the penalty. Again, the quoted verse encourages us to not let fear overcome our resolve to obey. For as long as we are willing to obey, we have God with us, each step of the way.

The difference between the man who built his house on the rock and the one who built it on sand is essentially this: both heard His word. One obeyed and one did not.