"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God."
The Lord Jesus Christ, Prince Of Peace
I believe emotions are infections, received and given. God's children infect the world with peace, or so they should. They do this in two ways: positively and negatively.
Positively, the children of God may establish or maintain peace. Hear the words of the Lord Jesus that illustrate this:
“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Luke 10:5-6
According to Jesus, his followers had the power of peace, the power to impart peace to those willing to receive it. The assumption of the Lord is that this peace came from within his followers. He said "your peace" will rest on "a man of peace" or "it will return to you." So the peace within the followers of Christ will rest upon those who are receptive. Therefore, if you are a follower of Christ, the peace of the Lord is in you, as it is written,
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." John 14:27
On
the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were
together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and
stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:19-21
This is the power of the peace maker, the power of the child of God! This is the powerful positive infection of God's peace.
Now for the "negative."
In the words of St. Augustine, "Peace is the tranquility of order."
In other words, the child of God not only establishes and maintains the peace of God by the Spirit of Peace, but he or she may be called to restore order, to expose and eradicate disorder or chaos, as it is written,
"Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."
Ephesians 5:11
Presently, I am a "peace officer," according to scripture, "Gods avenger"--
"Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for
he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for
he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an
avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer." Romans 13:3b-4
As an officer, I have found that I love peace and order, and I hate conflict and disorder. My goal is not the use of force, but the beauty of peace, the very peace of God, a glimpse of heaven.
All of God's children can give this glimpse. I believe they may do so by their very presence, and especially by the power of peace imparting words. The children of God may establish and maintain peace by simply being present, and especially by their peace imparting words. They may also restore peace by exposing and eradicating the darkness of disorder.
May all who possess the peace of Christ be peace makers, and thus be rightly called the children of God!
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