Dr Thamsing D Lamkang
Few things are as important as friendship. Friendship without frontiers, without resentment, without problem, without hate. How many barriers we the Nagas have created. Barriers that destroy, that kill, that discriminate between people because of their pride, jealousy, beliefs, or because of their origins… barriers that are the product of sin, because God says that the result of ‘SIN’ is “HATE and DEATH.”
It is very difficult to find peace makers in Nagaland today, even in the world. It is difficult to find people who seek peace and dependence on God. When someone appears talking about peace, it is usually a biased peace, a peace that is convenient. However, God teaches us that we should be at peace, as much as possible, with EVERYONE. Those who seek peace are blessed.
Peace makers are essentials in Christian life; men and women who never accept peace; men and women who prefer to lose their own rights to let God be glorified. Men and women who are able to abandon all disputes so that the Gospel is not stained with their attitudes! Peace makers are truly a happy people.
How many divisions have been created in churches because the members did not know how to give in! How many problems for the Gospel have been caused by useless traditions! How many minute details have separated entire families during years of quarrelling! How many “because-I-say-so” arguments have created enmity that has only been resolved by killing: Actually, the divisions, struggles, enmities, jealousy, pride and anger, are some of the favorite weapons of the Devil to destroy our Naga families and societies. The destroyers, avengers and the criminals might be happy to complete their task, but peace will never be prevailed. Worthy indeed are those who seek peace!
God says that peace makers will be called His children, but the whole world will recognize them. And we cannot deny that in this world they are essential. God is the greatest example of a peace maker because He made peace with all of us, through His Son Jesus, when we were His enemies. We should never forget that one of God’s characteristics is His kindness: unlimited kindness. We know that by experience.
MORAL JOKE: A saintly man had never quarreled and did not know what it meant to quarrel. He wondered quietly why and how people fought and killed each other in the world. One day he approached his companion and asked: “Brother, can you tell me how these people begin to fight?” His companion who knew of his friend’s simplicity and kindness said to him. “Look, here is a table; you say it is yours, and I shall say it is mine and the fight will start.”
You begin, said the saintly hermit as he did not know how to fight. The brother began, “I said, this is my table.” Well, said the saintly man meekly, “If it is yours, take it!”
(Taken from “The Contemporary Sermon Menu”)
“He who seeks peace is happy, because he does not let hate live in his heart”
If you’re a Christian – a committed one: If you know how to read: If you have a Bible, read Matthew Chapter 5, meditate on it: And please become a PEACE MAKER for the Lord Jesus Christ; for Yours is the Kingdom of God in Heaven!!
The writer is the Convener of Nagaland Sports Coalition (NSC)
