Conflict is the opposite of peace. We all know about conflict or turmoil. The world is full of turmoil. All you have to do is listen to the evening news channel. That is one reason I don’t listen to it. I don’t want to get caught up in the turmoil of the day. It is like people feed off this conflict to feel alive. It is not healthy to live in conflict. Peace is the only thing that will prolong life. Look at farmers, there life is peaceful as compared to people who live in cities. The only conflicts they have are squirrels, rabbits or deer that eat their crops. There are sometimes extreme conflicts such as droughts or plagues. But they are not the norm.

Peace can be obtained but our attitudes of our heart. An attitude of peace is not surrender. Sometimes we have to strive for peace. And peace isn’t situational awareness. On our own, it’s hard to obtain peace. The cares of this world consume our lives with turmoil.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrews had a blood sacrifice system to worship God and receive forgiveness from God. The first sacrifice that the Hebrews had to perform were the peace offerings. They had to make peace with God before they could do anything else. Cows, rams and lamb were the basic offerings, but there was in that economy an offering for poor people. You would never guess what it was. It was two turtledoves. When Joseph and Mary went to the temple to present Jesus before the Lord, they offered two turtledoves as a peace offering.

Peace doesn’t come through our own efforts. Peace is given by God to those who become His children. Only God can bring peace. There is an Aaronic Blessing in

Numbers 6:24-26. And I repeat this blessing for you. “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com