Becoming a Peace Maker

Matthew 5:20-2620 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.Anger21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. (ESV)LORD Messiah Jesus, help me hunger and thirst for righteousness and recognize the need to find my true righteousness in YOU while striving to reflect YOUR righteousness practically in what I do. LORD, forgive me for the many ways I fall short of true righteousness. Save me from the illusion of self righteousness and self justification. Lord, help me now to be more careful about seeking to do things that are right in the right way, for the right reasons. Lord have mercy on me.LORD, help me see other people as sacred and special. Keep me from gossip, slander, comparisons, and character assassination of others. Help me see that to curse another human being is to curse YOU for they are made in YOUR image.Help me to be a peacemaker. Rather than focused on finding personal justice let me be focused on finding reconciliation. Help me not want what I am owed as much as desiring to bring harmony not situations. Guide me in valuing people and relationships as YOU do.Peace Prayer RevisedLord, make me an instrument of your peace:where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;where there is sadness, joy.O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seekto be consoled as to console,to be understood as to understand,to be loved as to love.For it is in giving that we receive, it is in being freely pardoned by YOUR grace that we learn to pardon othersand it is in recognizing we have died with YOU on the cross that we can not live a new life of loveAmen.