Shalom!

Sometimes when these Sonshine blogs/podcasts align on the same topic of my morning devos I feel like God is really calling me out on something, and that’s exactly what happened today.

Since humanity has turned its back on its maker, we as disciples of Jesus, or shalom makers, are called to bring peace to all the relationships we have with each other, ourselves, God, and the earth. As DJ explained later in his sermon, the things that can happen to a peace maker are:

1.     Receive approval and blessings from God.

2.     Receive blessings or scorn from other people…because if we rejected Him, they might reject us.

This morning I read 1 Corinthians 4:

1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

When we bring peace through evangelism or taking up our cross, we will encounter scorn or judgement from others or even ourselves. But in 1 Corinthians, Paul is essentially telling us that a person who is grasped by the gospel and gets criticism, scorn, or judgement will not be devastated. They are far less concerned with themselves or others and way more concerned with the Lord’s judgement.

When we choose to bring shalom on this earth, it is important to ask ourselves, “Am I doing this because I lust for recognition or because I want to make myself feel good? Or am I bringing shalom to this earth because I want to be a steward of Christ, and could care less about who brought the peace in the relationship but are just SO happy to see the joy and peace in the relationship in itself?”

Shalom is a gift and experienced only in relationship with God. Therefore, the more we get to understand the gospel, the more we want to change and bring shalom. 

Lord, make us instruments of your peace! Thank you for letting us be your children!