Peacemakers. What would the world be like without peacemakers? I have known both peacemakers and pot stirrers. Perhaps you have had that experience as well. Doesn’t it give us a standard of how we want to treat others?
Merriam-Webster defines a peacemaker as a person who helps to prevent or stop an argument, a fight, or a war.
The Urban Dictionary defines a pot stirrer as a person who feels it necessary to try to create more drama in regards to a situation/argument/debate in which they are an outside observer. Usually by way of a comment or statement. Merriam-Webster has not taken on defining this term yet.
There you have it. Two ways to approach the day. I don’t think any of us look in the mirror in the morning and decide that today, I will be a peacemaker or this is the day I will stir the pot. Hopefully, we pursue the characteristics of peacemaker. I think that every home and workplace deserves peace. Don’t you? If we desire a bit of drama we can always find it in the movies or news of the day.
Is there value in stirring the pot? The only pot stirrer I have known did harm and caused serious relationship problems and pain, unnecessarily. However, occasionally “stirring things up” might be helpful. But is all controversy, turmoil and strife, pot stirring?
I have heard the remark that Jesus was a pot stirrer because twice he had to reprimand and cause an upset in the temple over the money changers. I do not see His action as a pot stirring episode because He was not an outside observer. He was the Messiah, our Redeemer, a reformer calling it what it was, ungodliness. The temple was to be a House of Prayer. He saw the changing of money for travelers coming to pay their yearly redemption money of a half shekel and buy their dove or oxen for sacrifice, as something not to be transacted in the House of Prayer. Jewish tradition says that His face shone and beams of light shot from His eyes. Perhaps, the sight of Him and the command in His voice is why they did not arrest Him or remove Him from the temple for causing a scene. He threw the money to the ground and chased those who set up business there, from the temple.
The one who stirs goes about pitting one against another. Using gossip to put themselves into a situation or causing unnecessary pain by slandering people for the sole purpose of either making themselves look good or place themselves in the middle of something that does not concern them to begin with. Jesus does not fit that description. He was a reformer.
Thought For Today:
After studying our scriptures and the “art” or “talent” of stirring the pot vs. peacemaking and reforming, wouldn’t we choose the later to strive for? Not one of us have ever enjoyed being hurt by unkindness and do not desire to cause that pain to others. If we were going to stir the pot it would be to promote our belief in Christ. I am pretty confident there are folks who feel that believers are stirring the pot, continuously. Believers are not outside observers when it comes to Jesus and the God of the Universe. We have a duty to speak up about our Savior. It is good to be prayerful always that we are the reflection of our Savior in everything we do and say, especially with others.
Scripture For Today:
Matthew 5:9
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. (NLT)
Matthew 21:12
Jesus went straight to the temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of loan sharks and the stalls of dove merchants. (The Message)
Prayer For Today:
Hello Father! We pray that we bring peace to our surroundings. That we work to be Your reflection when dealing with others. We ask for the boldness of Jesus when we see Your word being tainted to fit the culture of the day. Even then let us be reformers not stirrers of pots of division and pain. Forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
©2015 Kathy Ledbetter. All rights reserved.