One of the devotionals I read this week talked about the importance of peace-making as Christ-followers who have been charged with carrying on the Savior’s restoration work. Forgiveness, conflict-resolution, trying to understand where others are coming from– all non-optional for an Ambassador of Peace, of course, but it struck me how difficult these are to actually carry out in everyday life with any consistency. My head agrees that this is how Christ acts, what Christ values, but when a situation arises where such skills are needed, my heart is usually a casualty and everything inside arms up for battle. The real war is not between me and others, but between my heart and my will, and why did no one ever warn me that this may be the hardest battle I will ever fight?

Whoever painted Christians as weak-willed goody-two-shoes clearly never tried to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Up the hill with the cross-beam burden on His back, bent with the pain of someone else’s sin, and willing to let it pierce Him right through to death: this is the “how- to” model for the restoration team in this Extreme Makeover: World Edition. Something my heart does not want to hear when it has been attacked, or ignored, or let down yet again.

It takes strength to turn and shoulder the burden of someone else’s pain and sin, and obeying Jesus is the hardest thing you will do in life, because the fight with Self is to the death, and only you can choose to drive the nails through. “But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.” (Romans 8:13) It is a command that somehow doesn’t seem as dire as it really is, until you are in the heat of the moment and everything you want and feel screams to be heard.

But there is strength here too, mysterious and unfathomable: “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” (Romans 6:4) Our wills choosing what is right, our wills choosing to submit to the King, laying down the whole bundle of emotions and needs and desires that drive us and make us human…just taking that first step of even wanting to obey, and then allowing Him to make it happen, re-make us. Restoration begins here first, in the confines of my own heart, making peace between my will and His. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” (Philippians 2:13)

God, I need the strength to do what is right today. And tomorrow I will need it all over again. Help me to keep on wanting to obey– help me to keep asking for strength– so I can follow You as a peacemaker in this world and not give up.

“Am I prepared to let God grip me by His power and do a work in me that is worthy of Himself?” (Oswald Chambers)

“Break down our pride
And all the walls we’ve built up inside
Our earthly crowns and all our desires
We lay at Your feet

Let hope rise
And darkness tremble
In Your holy light
That every eye will see
Jesus our God
Great and mighty to be praised” (With Everything– Hillsong)