Topic: Peace Like A River [DCLM Daily Manna 3 March 2019 Daily Devotional]
Text: Genesis 26:26-35 (KJV)
Key Verse: “That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD” (Genesis 26:29).
MESSAGE:
Imagine how the world would have been if every human inhabitant of it were peaceable and would go the extra mile to secure it. In such a state, there probably would be no need for the police. All the defense mechanisms and security measures that men have surrounded themselves with would have been needless. But such a world exists only in our imagination until the millennium reign of the Prince of Peace. In reality, peace is a scarce commodity all over the world.
The wickedness and contradictions of the world notwithstanding, the Christian is expected to “follow peace with all men” and as much as possible to live peaceably with all men. The Lord has so designed it that the man of peace attracts peace. “When a man’s way please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him (Proverbs 16:7). This was the case of Isaac in our text.
The visit of Abimelech the king of Gerar and his friends, whether borne out of feeling of guilt or feeling of fear of repercussion, was a peace mission. The result of that meeting was a covenant of peace between Isaac and the people which was sealed with a feast that Isaac made for them. Observe how Isaac readily forgave the people and was willing to forge a peaceful and neighbourly relationship with them. He did not continue to nurse the injustice earlier meted out to him. It was more than a coincidence that the same day Isaac entered a peace treaty with Abimelech and his company, he was rewarded with a new well.
No less an attitude is expected of a Christian. As you step out today, make up your mind to chart a course of peace. Be willing to pay a reasonable price to secure peace. If Abimelech, a pagan king, took the initiative to make peace with a wronged Isaac, you should have more grace to initiate peace overtures to anyone whose way you have crossed.
Thought For The Day: We may not hope to achieve world peace, but we can achieve peace around us.
The Bible In One Year: Leviticus 15-17
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
