Christmas - Peace with Each Other

Christmas Eve 2008

Christmas: Peace with Each Other

by Rick Warren

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9 (KJV)

Once you make peace with God and have the peace of God in your heart, you’re able to make peace with other people. God says, “I want you to be a peacemaker. I want you to be a reconciler.” The Bible calls this “the ministry of reconciliation.”

As I’ve traveled from country to country over the past few years, I’ve seen the same problem – conflict. Between husbands and wives, between generations, ethnic groups, religious groups, language groups – between nations. The greatest need in our world is reconciliation. “Peace on earth, good will toward men.”

God says, “Once I have shown you grace, I want you to show it to other people. Show them the grace I have shown you. Be a peacemaker.”

Jesus said it like this. “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9 KJV).
If you really know Christ the Prince of Peace, you’re going to be a peacemaker, not a troublemaker – at work, at home, or at school.
You’re going to build people up, not tear them down.
You’re going to compliment more than you criticize.
You’re going to love people the way Jesus loves people.

Christmas is the perfect time to show grace to other people because we’re reminded of the grace God has shown us – that he gives us what we need, not what we deserve.

So let me ask you a very frank question: Who do you need to restore a broken relationship with this Christmas? That’s the spirit of Christmas – “peace on earth, good will toward men.”
You say, “I can’t do it.” When families get together at Christmas, a lot of times it brings back a lot of bad memories and past hurts and things you just haven’t let go of. You say, “I can’t let go of it. They hurt me too bad. I can’t forgive them.”

You’re right. That’s why you need Jesus. You don’t have it in you to let it all go. That’s why you’re still holding onto it. You need to be filled with the love of Christ and the peace of Christ. Until that happens, you’re not going to have the ability to let it go.

This season....offer peace on earth and goodwill to men!

Merry Christmas!



© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers. Pastor Jon Walker is a writer for
http://www.gracecreates.com/.
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The Motive that Matters for all Colors!

Tammy and I had the pleasure of sharing with a wonderful group of leaders...servants...of Cookson Hills Christian Ministries this weekend. Cookson Hills offers help, hope, and healing to children and families, in crisis.

Our thanks to Rick Bayless, Executive Director, and Marvin L Gray, a mutual friend, for the opportunity to serve.

We asked for the ability to, in some way, strengthen and/or encourage the people of Cookson Hills in the work they do. We also prayed that we would be open to be taught of them, because of the deep admiration and respect we have for the excellent and enduring reputation of this wonderful organization.

Without a doubt the latter part of our prayer was answered.

For information about Cookson Hills, visit their website at http://www.cooksonhills.org/.

The men and women of Cookson Hills are people of character, who have chosen to invest their lives...their talents, their strengths, their core motives, in order to bless the lives of others.
Dr. Taylor Hartman often speaks and writes about "using your gifts to bless the lives of others." My understanding of that phrase was enriched as Tammy and I pondered and talked about the blessing of our time together with them.

No matter what your personality, your core color and it's motive, whether RED - Power, BLUE - Intimacy, WHITE - Peace, or YELLOW - Fun, our lives find their true meaning and value when we express them combined with the higher motives of service and love.

Charactered living is driven by service. Successful living is driven by love. These two motives are the essence of a life well lived. They are the "stuff" of leaving a lasting legacy.

Motive matters, no doubt.

May God continue to bless all the special people, associated in any way, with Cookson Hills Christian Ministries, by filling them with the fullness of who He is...always.