Agents of Peace

Day Eighty-One

Agents of Peace (Read Proverbs 29:8-14)

⁸ Mockers can get a whole town agitated,
    but the wise will calm anger.

⁹ If a wise person takes a fool to court,
    there will be ranting and ridicule but no satisfaction.

¹⁰ The bloodthirsty hate blameless people,
    but the upright seek to help them.^[a]

¹¹ Fools vent their anger,
    but the wise quietly hold it back.

¹² If a ruler pays attention to liars,
    all his advisers will be wicked.

¹³ The poor and the oppressor have this in common—
    the Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.

¹⁴ If a king judges the poor fairly,
    his throne will last forever.

Footnotes

1. 29:10 Or The bloodthirsty hate blameless people, / and they seek to kill the upright; Hebrew reads The bloodthirsty hate blameless people; / as for the upright, they seek their life.

Reflection:

As we approach the 2024 November election, tensions across the country are high. Political debates fill our news feeds, and fears of civil unrest loom. The noise of division, frustration, and anger seems to echo everywhere. Feeling overwhelmed or drawn into the conflict is easy in such a charged atmosphere. But Proverbs 29:8 reminds us that we, as followers of Jesus, have a higher calling. While mockers and agitators stir up chaos, the wise step in as agents of peace.

"Peace begins with a smile." ~ Mother Teresa

God calls us to be peacemakers in a world often ruled by fear and anger. The role of the righteous is not to add fuel to the fire or join in the outrage but to calm anger and promote peace. This call for peace doesn't mean avoiding difficult conversations or ignoring essential issues. Instead, it means approaching them with wisdom, humility, and love, including on social media platforms.

"It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

As Election Day approaches, allowing our political convictions to cloud our ability to love those with different perspectives is tempting. The fear of civil unrest can make us anxious or defensive. But as children of God, we must resist the urge to act out of fear. Instead, God calls his children to trust He is in control and to reflect His peace in every conversation, post, or interaction. It can be heartwrenching scrolling social media and witnessing people you love and respect acting foolish, being divisive, and deepening the polarization in the world.

"Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good." ~ Romans 12:21

Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9). We are not just voters or citizens but ambassadors of Christ. As such, we carry His light into dark and divided spaces. In a world desperately needing hope and reconciliation, we can bring calm where others stir up conflict.

This election season, let's commit to being agents of peace. Let our words bring healing, our actions foster unity, and our prayers seek God's will. By choosing wisdom over mockery, we reflect Jesus' heart in a world that desperately needs His peace. We need to be adequate demonstrations of what it means to live a Jesus-centered life.

"And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness." ~ James 3:18

Reflection Questions

1. How can you bring peace into your conversations about politics, both online and in person?
2. How can you show love and understanding to someone with different political views?
3. What fears are you carrying about the upcoming election, and how can you release them to God?

Next Steps:

Here are some practical next steps to help you live out the message of Proverbs 29:8 and be an agent of peace during the 2024 election season:

1. Pray for peace – Begin each day by praying for peace in your heart and the nation. Ask God to calm any fears or anxieties and give you His wisdom as you navigate conversations and decisions.
2. Engage with humility – When discussing political issues, approach conversations with humility and a listening heart. Avoid speaking in anger or frustration. Seek to understand others' viewpoints and find common ground where possible.
3. Be a calming presence – When you sense the tension rising in discussions or your community, step in with calm, not more fuel. Offer words that de-escalate conflict in person, online, or more extensive settings.

Prayer:

Lord, in this season of uncertainty and division, help me to be an agent of Your peace. Give me the wisdom to calm anger and the grace to love those who see the world differently. Help me to trust You in all things and to reflect Your heart of peace in every situation. In Jesus' name, Amen.

May God bless your hearing, understanding, and application of today's wisdom.