This is post #29 of a series entitled Peacemakers for the Cause of Christ – Facilitators of God’s Peace in a World Looking for Peace. We hope you’ll enjoy these 31 podcasts and blogs that focus on our great need in today’s society for peacemakers; men, women, and children who are willing to step away from all the contempt, division, and hatred, and step in toward the blessed call of being Christ-centered peacemakers for the greater glory of God. Here you’ll find very practical and biblically-sound advice on building bridges instead of walls, offering hope instead of despair. Here’s the homepage for the entire series.

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Truth #10:       Peacemakers Keep Going Despite the Resistance.

Today’s Lectio Divina: Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—He could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now He’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility He plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Hebrews 12: 1-3 (MsgB)

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Well, there you have it. Last week, we introduced you to nine of our Ten Commandments for Facilitators in God’s Circle of Peace.

I. Know who you are, what you believe & where you are called.

II. Keep your circle of non-negotiables small.

III. Ask for God’s gift of holy indifference.

IV. Build bridges while respecting walls.

V. Focus on the power of one.

VI. Stop-Look-Listen.

VII. Prefer relationship over rules.

VIII. Go slow in order to go fast.

IX. Be content with small, quiet fire.

Now, its time to give you…

Commandment X: Keep showing up.

You see, being a peacemaker for the cause of Christ is not for sissies, nor is it for those with short attention spans, weak stomachs or wobbly knees. As the writer of Hebrews says so well in today’s Lectio Divina:

Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how He did it.

As we’ve said numerous times in this blog/podcast series, Jesus is the true peacemaker. We are simply His followers who say what He said, and act as He acted. Peacemaking is His ministry and without a doubt, He’s committed to the process, come hell or high-water, until the end of time.

And speaking of hell and high-water.

We must realize, as peacemakers for the cause of Christ, that we will never do this work without the push back that comes from the pit of hell. You see, while Jesus is the peacemaker, healing broken lives, restoring broken relationships, and reconciling a broken world back to its Maker, Satan is just the opposite: the great divider.

In New Testament Greek, the word diabolos (devil) means “the one who divides, slanderous one, or one who falsely accuses.” Jesus was very clear in His teachings that Satan will do anything and everything in his power to separate us from God and divide us from one another. Fortunately, Satan’s power is limited and can only find a home in us when fleshly rebellion prevails. You see, the human condition is vulnerable not to the degree that we sin (which in Hebrew simply means to miss the mark), but more at its root: issues of self-centeredness, self-promotion, and self-aggrandizing. These are the real enemies of our soul!

This is why humility, the way of lowliness, is the high-water mark of Christ-likeness. The place of humility is the one place where Satan, in his prideful self, will never be able to go.

That’s why Jesus says this:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5: 38-45 (NIV)

You see, you and I not only need to keep showing up when it comes to Christ-centered peacemaking, but we need to come into this work clothed in…

Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, (bearing) with each other and (forgiving) one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. (Forgiving) as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3: 12-14 (NIV)

It’s these beautiful garments of the Spirit that actually become our armor in a time of warfare. Yet unlike heavy swords, powerful rifles, and weighty bullet-proof vests, you and I can slip on these lightweight garments of faith, hope, and love, knowing with certainty that they will carry us through the long haul of serving Christ for the greater glory of God.

So, are you ready to keep going with Jesus? Keep showing up, for Jesus’ sake?

What’s that? You feel a bit weary in the well-doing?

Let me repeat what the writer of Hebrews tells us in today’s Lectio Divina…

When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that (Jesus) story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility He plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

My Prayer: Jesus, as I continue to be that faithful peacemaker You ask me to be, without a doubt, there will be push back, resistance, and at times, out-n-out hatred toward this work and false accusations directed toward me. You told Your disciples…

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16: 33 (NIV)

Holy Spirit, deliver me from evil, and empower me with the peace that passes all understanding so I can keep showing up for the greater glory of God. For Your Name’s sake. Amen.

A Few Questions to Ponder: What will it look like for me to look past the tribulation, the trials, and the resistance, and love my enemies today? Am I willing to stand my ground on the truth of God’s Word, stand where Jesus stood, where falsehoods, accusations, and lies are being spoken about me? Can I trust Jesus to give me all I need to keep showing up, for His name’s sake?

So, how are you experiencing God’s presence as you are becoming a peacemaker for the cause of Christ?

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*This is the seventeenth in a variety of practical suggestions/resources we will make throughout this blog/podcast series. We call these exercises:

PUTTING ON YOUR PEACEMAKER TOOLBELT.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4: 9 (NIV)

Tool #17: Ten Commandments For Facilitators in God’s Circle of Peace.

I. Know who you are, what you believe & where you are called.

II. Keep your circle of non-negotiables small.

III. Ask for God’s gift of holy indifference.

IV. Build bridges while respecting walls.

V. Focus on the power of one.

VI. Stop-Look-Listen.

VII. Prefer relationship over rules.

VIII. Go slow in order to go fast.

IX. Be content with small, quiet fire.

X: Keep showing up.

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Peacemakers for the Cause of Christ – Facilitators of God’s Peace in a World Looking for Peace.

We hope you’ll enjoy these 31 podcasts and blogs that focus on our great need in today’s society for peacemakers; men, women, and children who are willing to step away from all the contempt, division, and hatred, and step in toward the blessed call of being Christ-centered peacemakers for the greater glory of God. Here’s the homepage for the entire series.

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