The Gospel: The Key to Peacemaking (Romans 8:1-4)
Dear Members of the Our Savior Lutheran Church Email Prayer Chain,

Since Pastor Fausel beginnings his sermon series and Bible Class on being peacemakers this Sunday, my devotional thoughts for future months will be based on my reactions to quotes from the book The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict. This is one of the resources your staff has been studying in preparation for modeling what it means to live the lifestyle of a peacemaker. I would encourage you to get your own copy of this book, copies of which we will have available soon for purchase at church. This quote refers to the “Four G’s” about which you will learn about in Pastor’s sermon series and Bible Class.

The Gospel: The Key to Peacemaking

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. – Romans 8:1-4 

“These principles of biblical peacemaking have proven to be universally counter cultural. No matter what race or country we come from, none of us is naturally inclined to obey Jesus' commands to love our enemies, confess our wrongs, gently correct others, submit to our church, and forgive those who hurt us. In fact, left to our own instincts, we are disposed to do just the opposite.

Fortunately, God has provided a way for us to overcome our innate weakness as peacemakers and learn to respond to conflict constructively. His solution is the gospel, the good news that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Tim. 1:15). God sent his Son to pay the price for our sins through his death and resurrection. When we believe this and put our trust in Jesus, God forgives all our sins. Through the gospel he also enables us to learn how to resist temptation, obey his commands, and live a life that honors him.

This wonderful news can radically change the way we respond to conflict. Through the gospel, the foundational G, the Lord enables us to live out the Four G's of peacemaking. As we stand in awe of his matchless grace, we find more joy in glorifying God than in pursuing our own selfish ends. When we realize that God has mercy on those who confess their sins, our defensiveness lifts and we are able to admit our wrongs. As we accept and benefit from the way the gospel lovingly shows us our sin, we are inspired to gently correct and restore others who have done wrong. And as we rejoice in the liberating forgiveness of God, we are empowered to go and forgive others in the same way.” 

Taken from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict
by Ken Sande, Updated Edition (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2003) p. 13-14

Food for Thought

In the last paragraph above, Ken mentions four ways the Lord uses the gospel to enable us to live out the Four G's of peacemaking. At the beginning of our peacemakers journey, we tend to focus on the foundational G, the gospel, with renewed intensity.  Remembering the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ should give us reason to restore those broken relationships in our lives.  Reflecting on the great cost of our forgiveness should cause us to pursue reconciliation with others.  As believers, we have been forgiven an enormous debt.

If you are facing conflict, God provides both the model and motivation for peacemaking through the gospel. Remember who God is, what he is like, and what he is doing in your life--then ask him to use you to show his love to others.   

PRAYER REQUESTS -- Week of September 13, 2009  

FOR THOSE WHO LOOK TO THE LORD FOR HEALING

Dorothy Ordel            Hospitalized with health concerns
Brooke McGrew        [Sister of Scott Smith] Diagnosed with Cervical cancer, awaiting treatment
Larry Lose                  Health concerns
Brock Douglas          [Brother-in-law of Melanie Douglas] recovering from surgery from infection and fighting liver cancer.
Jason Smith               [Friend of Sheila Hildebrandt] 37 y.o. with metastatic cancer and recovering from surgery
Joel Miller                   [Friend of Sheila Hildebrandt] 15 y.o. in rehab for substance abuse, friction with Jewish parent over faith

FOR NEW LIFE IN BAPTISM

For Jonah Davis Robison, son of David and Leah Robison who will baptized today  

FOR THOSE WHO MOURN

The family of Katie Lemker, very young niece of Karen and Robert Ranzau who was called home and received a Christian burial this past week. 

The family of Carol Adler, mother-in-law of Debra Lohmeyer, daughter-in-law of Kyle and Lois Lohmeyer, she will receive a Christian burial this week.

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.--Hebrews 13:20-21 

In Christ’s Kingdom Together,
Paul Nickel
Director of Christian Education
Our Savior Lutheran Church
 

Copyright 2006-2010, Our Savior Lutheran Church