近年来，西非许多国家都在应对武装冲突。即便如此，和平仍深深植根于我们的传统。过去，每个社区都有一个正式的调解人，即铁匠。人们相信他是活人世界和属灵世界之间的调解人，也是人与人之间的调解人。如果铁匠介入冲突，战争就会停止。
保罗敦促我们，作为基督的跟随者，要“用和平彼此联络，竭力保守圣灵所赐合而为一的心。”正如耶稣所说：“使人和睦的人有福了。”当我们尽力寻求和睦时，圣灵就会带来合一。但我们每个人既可能促进合一，也可能破坏合一。教会和社会的合一必须以和平为纽带来维护。在基督里，我们与神和好了；尽管我们与祂为敌，祂却来拯救我们（罗马书 5:8-11）。耶稣是和平之君（以赛亚书 9:6），祂邀请我们奉祂的名缔造和平。
我们周围的人并不总是善良、公平或做正确的事。但即便如此，我们的职责也是维护和平。我们在家庭、教会和任何地方都要这样做。这样，我们就能帮助这个世界更多地体现神国的价值观。
在复杂的人际关系中，你可以通过哪些方式来缔造和平呢？
和平之君，感谢你使我们与神和好。请帮助我们将和平带给身边的人。阿们。
马太福音5:1-12
1耶稣看见这许多的人，就上了山，既已坐下，门徒到他跟前来，
2他就开口教训他们，说：
3“虚心的人有福了！因为天国是他们的。
4哀恸的人有福了！因为他们必得安慰。
5温柔的人有福了！因为他们必承受地土。
6饥渴慕义的人有福了！因为他们必得饱足。
7怜恤人的人有福了！因为他们必蒙怜恤。
8清心的人有福了！因为他们必得见神。
9使人和睦的人有福了！因为他们必称为神的儿子。
10为义受逼迫的人有福了！因为天国是他们的。
11人若因我辱骂你们，逼迫你们，捏造各样坏话毁谤你们，你们就有福了。
12应当欢喜快乐，因为你们在天上的赏赐是大的。在你们以前的先知，人也是这样逼迫他们。
"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." - Ephesians 4:3
Many countries in West Africa have been dealing with armed conflict in recent years. Even so, peace is deeply rooted in our traditions. In the past, each community had an official conciliator, the blacksmith. He was believed to be a mediator between the world of the living and the spirit world—and also between people themselves. If the blacksmith intervened in a conflict, the hostilities would stop.
Paul urges us as followers of Christ to “keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” As Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” When we strive to live together in peace, the Spirit brings unity, but each of us can promote unity or destroy it. The unity of the church and of society must be preserved by the bond of peace. In Christ we have found peace with God; he came to save us even though we were his enemies (Romans 5:8-11). Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and he invites us to make peace in his name.
The people around us will not always be nice, fair, or do what is right. But even then, our role is to bring peace. We do this in our families, our churches, and wherever we spend our workdays. In this way we can help to make our world a place that reflects more of the values of God’s kingdom.
In what ways can you make peace in complicated relationships?
Prince of Peace, thank you for bringing us peace with God. Help us to bring peace to the people around us. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
