Blessed are they
who have no locks on their door.
~ Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Reflect, Resonate, Reevaluate, Respond
O the bliss of those who are always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time, who have every instinct, impulse and passion under control because they themselves are God-controlled, who have the humility to realize their own ignorance and their own weakness, for such people can indeed rule the world!
~ William Barclay, 1907-1978, Church of Scotland pastor & professor
Scripture scholars contend that the original language of the Beatitudes should not be rendered as “Blessed are the single-hearted” or “Blessed are the peacemakers” or “Blessed are those who struggle for justice.” Greater precision in translation would say, “You’re in the right place if…you are single-hearted or work for peace.” The Beatitudes is not a spirituality, after all. It’s a geography. It tells us where to stand.”
~ Gregory Boyle, 1954- , founder and director of Homeboy Industries
Jesus does not limit the peacemaking to only one kind, and neither will his disciples. In the light of the gospel, Jesus himself is the supreme peacemaker, making peace between God and man, and man and man. Our peacemaking will include the promulgation of that gospel. It must also extend to seeking all kinds of reconciliation. Instead of delighting in division, bitterness, strife, or some petty “divide and conquer” mentality, disciples of Jesus delight to make peace wherever possible.
~ D.A. Carson, 1946- , distinguished New Testament scholar & theologian
I have found truly jubilant Christians only in the Bible, in the Underground Church and in prison.
~ Richard Wurmbrand, 1909-2001, Romanian Lutheran priest
At the Nicene Council, an important church meeting in the 4th century A.D., of the 318 delegates attending, fewer than 12 had not lost an eye or lost a hand or did not limp on a leg lamed by torture for their Christian faith.
~ Vance Havner, 1901-1986, revivalist preacher
Blessed are the peacemakers, and one sure way of peacemaking is to let the fire of contention alone. Neither fan it, nor stir it, nor add fuel to it, but let it go out by itself.
~ Charles Spurgeon, 1834-1892, ‘Prince of Preachers’