Goat Peace
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
Beloved,
When two goats meet upon a narrow bridge over deep waters, how do they behave? Neither of them can turn back again, neither can they pass the other, because the bridge is too narrow. Should they thrust one another, they might both fall into the water and be drowned; nature, then, has taught them, that if the one lays himself down and permits the other to go over him, both remain without hurt. Even so people should rather endure to be trod upon, than to fall into debate and discord one with another.
Goats learned the valuable lesson of laying down one’s rights for the sake of peace. If goats can learn this lesson, how much more should we? The goat was motivated to simply to avoid injury, but we have the far better motivation.
God promises that peacemakers will be called sons of God. Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself by making peace through the blood of cross. Jesus Christ is the ultimate peacemaker. God demonstrated his love for us that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. We are no longer enemies, but have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” In the first century, a son received all the inheritance of the family. As Jesus Christ laid down his life to give us peace and the promise of an inheritance, while we were still enemies, how much more should we be willing to lay down our lives to make peace with others in our life?
Blessed are the peacemakers, but woe to the peace-breakers. Titus 3:10-11, “As for a person who stirs up division (peace-breaker), after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” Which would you rather be called: son of God or warped, sinful and self-condemned? The choice is simple.
God has offered you peace through Christ. I urge you in view of God’s peace, offer peace to one another. Be willing to be trod upon rather than to fall into discord with one another for blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.
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