DAILY GUIDE DEVOTIONAL; BE A PEACE MAKER

Text:2 Samuel 14:1-24

Mathew 5:9 "blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the sons of God" 

This lesson X-ray the steps Joab, David's nephew and army commander,  took to restore peace between David and his son Absalom after Absalom had been in exile for killing his brother Amnon. Murder is a grievous crime, but even more grievous when it is perpetrated by one family member against the other. Families are bound with such filial love that grievances between them is naturally not expected to go to the extreme. But we could see the opposite happening in the family of David. Unforgiving spirit keeps a person in a terrible bondage and unending torture. It is not only advisable to forgive and forget because it is God's directive, it is also a healthy lifestyle to prayerfully embrace because it keeps us free spiritually, physically, socially and emotionally.

The three people involved in this narrative; Joab, the woman from Tekoa and  David all displayed commendable humility, wisdom and love in their respective parts. Joab took the initiative to rebuild the bridge between the king and his son. The woman acted out in godly maturity, wit and humility and the king also accepted the help he needed. 

As the woman rightly said in Verse 14 "For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life but he devises means so that his banished ones ore not expelled from him". This is what God achieved through Jesus. We had been estranged from God right from the time of our birth, but in his mercy, he sent Jesus to bridge the gap between us and himself. He does not take delight in the death of any man rather he wishes that all will come to him in repentance, accepting Jesus as their lord and savior. If you have not been reconciled to God through Jesus, today is another good opportunity to do so.

Joab's courage in challenging the king's wrong decision is commendable and worthy of emulation. As believers we should not only preach the gospel but also be involved in people's lives. We help to show practical love by going out of our ways to help others who are struggling in their interpersonal  relationships. Not as busybodies but with good intentions  to restore them back to God through these efforts. For we cannot be at peace with God without  being at peace with our fellow man. May it always be our prayer to be used as an instrument of peace wherever there is conflict, no matter what it may take. Amen.