Daily Devotionals

'Every Day Light' with Selwyn Hughes

Devotional: April 18th

For Reading and Meditation:
     Romans 5:1-11

We have come now to the seventh positive attitude that makes for good spiritual and mental health: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). This Beatitude seems to have a special relevance to the age through which we are passing, for if there is one thing the world needs at this moment, it is peacemakers. Our generation has never known peace worldwide. One authority says: "During most of our recent history the air has been filled with rumblings of pending war until today, at the so-called peak of scientific enlightenment, the menace of a global conflict threatens our atomic age with suicide." The uncertainty caused by being on the brink of nuclear confrontation, despite the end of the cold war between the East and West, has taken its toll on people of all nations, spiritually and psychologically. Studies show that living in a generation which has the power to annihilate itself in global destruction has a crippling effect upon the minds of thousands, if not millions of people. There was never a time when peacemakers were as important as they are now. And more and more are standing up to be counted on the side of peace. The peace organisations report increasing memberships and their attempts to alert the world to the need for international treaties continues to gain the attention of every section of the media. Yet how strange that most of those who are so concerned for peace between nations fail to see the need for peace between themselves and their Creator. The solemn truth is that no man or woman can become a peacemaker - at least in the biblical sense of the word - until they have found peace within their innermost being.

O my Father, help people to come to the realisation that before they can enjoy the peace of God, they must first enjoy peace with God. In Jesus' Name. Amen.