Blessed Are The Peacemakers - Thursday Devotionals

Charles Simeon was no rumor-tracker.

“My rule is – never to hear, or see, or know, what if heard, or seen, or known, would call for animadversion from me. Hence it is that I dwell in peace in the midst of lions.”

Charles Simeon

We would do well not to be curious about what others are saying.

The Christian must have one blind eye and one deaf ear.

And turn that eye and that ear to the rumors that would incense us.

“But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.”

Psalm 37:11

Do you have a blind eye and a blind ear?

Or are your eyes sharp to see what others do around you?

And your ears sharp to hear what is whispered about you and others around you?

We think that it is strength to confront others.

To make sure they don’t speak wrongly about us.

Or act wrongly around us.

But we are called to be meek.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Matthew 5:5

Charles Simeon dealt with his opponents in a forthright face-to-face way.

In 1810, a man named Edward Pearson accused Simeon of setting too high a standard of holiness in his preaching.

This criticism was made public in pamphlets.

Simeon wrote to Pearson and said,

“Persons who have the same general design, but differ in some particular modes of carrying it to execution, often stand more aloof from each other than they do from persons whose principles and conduct they entirely disapprove. Hence prejudice arises and a tendency to mutual crimination; whereas, if they occasionally conversed for half an hour with each other, they would soon rectify their mutual misapprehensions, and concur in aiding, rather than undermining, the efforts of each other for the public good.”

How much evil can be averted by doing things face to face!

We attempt far too much fence-mending by letter and even by phone.

Do you take time to talk with the people who believe in Christ but in a different manner from you?

Do you try to find what is similar?

If the basics of your faith are the same?

Or do you spend your time digging the differences and points to argue about?

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Matthew 5:9

This post is part of Thursday Devotionals series. Right now it is going through the life, work and faith of Charles Simeon.

Would you like to read the first part, Are You Ready To Suffer For Christ?

You might also enjoy the second part of the series, Growing Downward.

I also recommend the thrird part for the children of this generation called, All Consuming Interest.

The fourth part is called, Peace Flowed In Rich Abundance.

If you have not yet read the fifth part , This Sweet Hope.

Take some time to read the sixth part also, Blessed Are The Peacemakers.

Hope you will enjoy reading the seventh part, A Double Blessing To Your Ministry.

Are you willing for, A Little Suffering For Christ's Sake.