Let Peace Break Out (Matthew 5:43-48)
Gary McManus, 11/11/2018Part of the New Life series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
November 11, 2018
Matthew 5:43-48
The 100th Anniversary of the End of WW1.
A short time line for Armistice Day/Veteran’s Day
1914, August: WW 1 began.
1917, America entered the war
1918, American troops arrive in Europe
1918, Summer, American troops enter combat
1918, November 1, 1918, the Armistice was called;
the war was over.
1919, November 11th, the first anniversary of the
end of the war, America celebrates Armistice Day
1938, November 11th becomes a national holiday
A few facts about WW1:
--Ten million soldiers died in the four years of WW1
from all the major conflict nations.
-- The number of casualties which includes wounded
and missing people rolled to over 30 million.
The war had been so horrible that the International
League of Nations was established. It was the first
international organization whose principal mission
was to maintain world peace.
Daleville Christian Church was worshipping
in 1914 right where you are today—
beneath these same windows.
Let’s go to Europe, in our minds
—to the WW1 battlefield in Belgium.
Let’s look at Christmas morning, 1914.
There are photos of the Christmas Truce
of 1914. A few are posted for you in the
display.
We remember Clyde Maxwell and Addison Bliss.
We remember Everett Forrest and Charles Hoel,
both of Daleville.
JESUS. . .said, "But I tell you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you. . ." Matthew 5:44
Jesus words are based in the Old Testament
(Leviticus 19:8, 19:19, 22:37).
Jesus’ words are considered the one teaching that
separates Jesus and his followers from everyone else.
Love, for Jesus, means CONCRETE action.
Followers of Jesus are called to DO GOOD to others
. . .to consider THEIR well-being, just as we EASILY
consider our own well-being.
Every one of us is created in God’s image.
Every one of us was formed for God’s purposes.
Every one of us is due a measure of respect—
not because we earned it, but because God made us.
Today, we in America are in a very different war. . .
“Take MY yoke” Jesus said (Matthew 11:29).
Can we, as they did on Christmas Day, 1914
remember Jesus’ words?
Can we do it today? Amen.
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