Fight the Good Fight of FaithSample

Blessed are the peacemakers

Jesus’ words in Matthew 5 make clear that God’s Kingdom is a kingdom of peace. It will not come through military power, but by the Spirit. It will grow like a plant, starting small and developing almost unnoticed. Believers are not called to fight for God, but to be peacemakers. Some will even be persecuted. Instead of violently defending themselves, they are called to follow Jesus’ example. “When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23)

The last words of this verse are of key importance. We are not simply called to let people walk all over us, but to entrust ourselves “to him who judges justly”. God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14). As the apostle Paul explains in his letter to the Romans: “Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’”

Have you ever been treated badly “for righteousness sake”? How did you respond?