If you notice, our Lord speaks of “peacemakerS” in the plural. He is not talking about peacemaking between men and God. That sense would be singular for it is Christ alone who is THE Peacemaker, “having made peace through the blood of His cross.” No, the peacemakers He speaks of are those who seek peace among the Lord’s people. They seek by the grace and help of God to restore peace where any breech of peace has come among the brethren. Many times those who seek to be such are found suspect by both sides. The idea is, “if you count him or them as brethren, then you must be against me.” That is not really the case. I fear that they are often considered compromisers but the Lord knows that is not what they are at all. Peacemakers view all the brethren as they are in Christ, value and love them all the same and desire the fellowship of all. They value all true believers in light of the price Christ paid of His blood to make peace with God for them. Peacemakers realize that no one knows everything or is right about every doctrine, passage of scripture or practice. They long for, pray for and seek to restore that “unity” that the psalmist speaks of. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psa. 133:1) This unity comes through union with Jesus Christ and all who are “in Him” view Him as all. Therefore they love all who are in Him and greatly desire that there be peace among all His people. The peacemaker’s words are like Abram’s words to Lot: “Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee…for we be brethren.” The peacemakers? “they shall be called the children of God.” GS

I NEED YOU!

When the apostle speaks of the elect in their relationship to Christ, he sometimes refers to them as the “body” of Christ the Head. How blessed and benefited we are because of that grace union whereby we are joined to Christ, blessed in Christ and called His “body.” It is a necessary union. He also speaks of another union, the union between each part of the Body. In the Lord’s Church, we are not only in union with Christ the Head, we are also in union with each part of the Body! PLUS, we also receive benefit from each part of the Body! Necessary benefit and needed blessing! “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Eph. 4:16) The whole Body is “fitly joined together” and “every joint supplieth” and “maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” All the gifts God gives, He gives to ALL the Church both locally and worldwide. These are the gifts He gives not only through His preachers but through all believers. (Eph. 4:11,12) Listen to the apostle:

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1Co 12:12-27)

Every member of the body has gifts that the others need. I would say this: You may not need me but I NEED YOU! GS

JACOB’S GOD AND OURS

O God of Jacob hear us now,

As to your Name we sing.

And from our hearts to you above,

Unending praises bring.

Like Jacob we as sinners come,

And trust your blood alone.

No hope have we but what you give

In Jesus Christ the Son.

Like Jacob we must praise your grace,

For everlasting love,

So wretched we, so holy you

On that great throne above.

Like Jacob, chosen in the Son,

Redeemed, then wrestled so to know,

I’m made a prince, an Israel

That you will not let go!

87.87

Gary Shepard