Three Peacemakers of the Early Church
God is with us and moves within our problems and solutions in ways we could not imagine. Like these three men, we have to address it, seek God’s will, and unify the parties to make peace.
Solomon's Wisdom
Every father who resolves conflict between his teenagers, every coworker who seeks compromise between polarized thoughts, every man or woman who confronts the issues and doesn’t avoid confrontation, everyone who restores a brother or sister to the Lord and recovers from sin is a peacemaker. As children of God, we are called to be peacemakers.
Identity: Paul
Paul worked as hard for God before his blinding-light experience as he did after, but the result of the purpose came in line with God’s ultimate plan only upon knowing Him.
Equipped for My Purpose
You have a purpose that He will ensure you are prepared for, giving you all the tools and skills necessary.
Know my Purpose in Life
It may take some time and assistance from others, but purpose is not something that God has left among the mysteries. He wants us to know why he has created us.
Identity: Lydia
Lydia, the woman of purple cloth in Acts 16, time and again demonstrates that who she was and what she did were intertwined with the Lord. Her purpose and identity were clear in just a few verses.
Why has God made me?
So much of our identity is wrapped up in our purpose. What is my purpose for life? Why am I here?
Distortion in our Mind
Jesus called for Lazarus to come up and live anew and out he came! But the remarkable thing is that he came out in his grave wrappings.
Identity: Jonah
Jonah highlights that we have a role in the direction we go and the attitude we take.
Distorted Views
Reclaim the identity God has for you; leave behind the trap of defining self by what others say or think.
From Perfect to Blessing
We want to be liked and held in high regard, but all this focuses on us. What God likely wants is for us to focus on others.
Identity: Gideon, Judges 6-7
Gideon seems to be fearful, think little of himself, and not carry out the moniker ‘mighty man of valor’. Yet, that is what he is called.
God Restores My Identity
Several years ago, I sang in a gospel choir. We were given a new song to learn called ‘Identity’ and it was in learning this song and singing the lyrics that I began to dive into what identity in God really means.
God's Gift: You
The creator of the universe has found me, has found you, worthy of revealing himself to us and being our father, our friend and brother, our comforter.
Identity: Moses, Exodus 3-4
It isn’t necessary to wait until the New Testament to verify the verse ‘I can do all things through him who strengthens me,’ (Philippians 4:13).