Jun 6, 2022
In 1152 a war started between the countries of France and
England, all because King Louis VII shaved his beard and refused to
grow it back. Sadly this conflict, referred to as 'The
War of Whiskers' raged for 301 years until peace was
finally declared after the Battle of Rouen in 1453.
As one studies the countless wars and battles fought down through
the ages, it doesn't take long to discover that many were
instigated because of a trivial incident; a king was offended, a
monarch wanted more of something, or a ruler was simply
bored.
Sometimes it's kind of entertaining to poke fun at all these out of
touch monarchs who stir up conflict over petty matters, until we
stop and realize that our latest argument with our spouse was about
where to park the car at Target! It's actually quite
impressive when you stop to consider all of the trivial things
people fight about.
Take a minute and consider what areas of your life are you
experiencing conflict. Are you having some issues within your
marriage or family? Do you sense conflict in the culture
around you? Are you personally feeling conflicted about
decisions or choices...or maybe even past regrets? Here's a
big one to consider: Is there conflict between you and God?
Are you upset about something God has or hasn't done?
If you answered, "Yes" to any or all of these scenarios,
the next question is important: Where can I find
peace when conflict abounds?
One of the most overlooked traits of a Christian is that of a
peacemaker. Jesus said that Kingdom-citizens are peacemakers
(Matthew 5:9). His brother James uses this same description
in his letter:
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all
pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and
good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in
peace reap a harvest of righteousness." ~ James
3:17-18
Does the word "peacemaker" describe you well? For
most Christians, peacemaker is not in their vocabulary.
Neither is living at peace in a world of conflict. It's safe
to say that Christians, struggle with conflict in most every area
of their lives, in fact maybe that describes you right
now.
In part seven of our series through the book of James, the author
not only addresses the myriad of conflicts we face, he also
provides a helpful pathway to a life of peace. Do you want to
learn more? Check out our worship service this Sunday and
discover how to live in peace even when conflict abounds.