和平远不止是没有冲突。和平包含了人和环境的和谐共处。和平是一种蒙受祝福的状态，我们的身体、我们的关系、我们的环境，甚至我们的政府和经济都很健康。和平甚至会催生正义，为众人带来共同繁荣和社会公义。在正义伸张的地方，人们以仁爱、忍耐以及其他各样美德彼此相待。和平是我们梦寐以求的秩序，是耶稣应许要赐给我们的。
和平现在还没有完全临到。但我们可以预尝它的滋味。我们甚至可以在一段时间内建立一个小型的和平社区。圣灵在早期的基督徒中建立了一个和平社区（见徒2:42-47；4:32-37）。而今天也有一些例子，包括基督徒也一起构建了一些“公社”。
有时我们个人的呼召和神赋予我们在这个世界上的责任使我们无法创建这样的社区，与那些和我们一样渴望和平的群体生活在一起。但我们可以从现实的社区中学到很多东西，而且我们可以向整个世界成为神的和平使者。
你所在的社区中哪里还缺少和平，你能做些什么来播种一些和平？你已经知道如何去做了吗？你可以向谁学习相关的技能呢？
主耶稣，愿你快来，带来你永恒的和平。同时，请教导我们实际的方法，让我们在今天所在之地成为和平使者。阿们。
雅各书 3:13-18
13你们中间谁是有智慧、有见识的呢？他就当在智慧的温柔上显出他的善行来。
14你们心里若怀着苦毒的嫉妒和纷争，就不可自夸，也不可说谎话抵挡真道。
15这样的智慧不是从上头来的，乃是属地的，属情欲的，属鬼魔的。
16在何处有嫉妒、纷争，就在何处有扰乱和各样的坏事。
17唯独从上头来的智慧，先是清洁，后是和平、温良、柔顺、满有怜悯、多结善果、没有偏见、没有假冒；
18并且使人和平的，是用和平所栽种的义果。
"Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." - James 3:18
Peace is so much more than an absence of conflict. Peace involves people and systems working in harmony together. Peace is an existence full of well-being, in which our bodies, our relationships, our environment, and even our governments and economies are healthy. Peace even grows righteousness, which brings flourishing and justice for all. Where there is righteousness, people treat each other with love, patience, and all other virtues. Peace is an existence we dream of, which Jesus promised to bring us.
Peace is not here yet. But we can have tastes of it. We can even build little communities of it for a time. The Holy Spirit built a community of peace among the early Christians (see Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-37). And some examples today include Christians living in “intentional communities” together.
Sometimes our calling and our God-given responsibilities in this world prevent us from creating a community where we can live mainly with others who share our desire for peace. But we can learn a lot from such communities, and we can be peacemakers in the world at large.
Where do you see a lack of peace in the community you are a part of, and what can you do to sow some peace there? Do you already know how to do that? Whom could you learn from?
Lord Jesus, come quickly to bring your peace forever. In the meantime, teach us practical ways to be peacemakers where we are today. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
