A Devotion By Jimmy Carter: Make Peace

The following is excerpted from "Through the Year with Jimmy Carter: 366 Daily Meditations from the 39th President."

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
--Matthew 5:9

During 13 difficult days, Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt, and I worked at Camp David to negotiate a historic peace agreement. When we returned to Washington, I was invited to address a special session of the U.S. Congress.

I had no time to develop a lengthy speech, but I decided on the way to the Capitol to quote Matthew 5:9. I wanted to say, “Blessed are the peace-makers,” but I couldn’t remember what came next. So I called for a Bible to be waiting for me when I got out of the limousine. Upon my arrival, a staff member slipped me a piece of paper that said, “for they will be called children of God.” I repeated it as I asked Sadat and Begin to stand.

Peacemakers are very special ­people. They have to understand and sympathize with others who have differing points of view. Begin and Sadat’s countries had been at war four times during the previous 25 years. They hated each other. I kept the two men apart for their last 10 days at Camp David because they couldn’t sit in the same room without all the old animosities coming out.

Peacemakers have to empathize with both sides, even though both sides can’t be completely right. Through common trust, understanding and flexibility, they must find a way to get both sides to come together. They must make sure that every time one side gives up something, they can expect to get something more important at the end. And finally, both sides must win. If one side loses and the other wins, the peace will not last.

Every Chris­tian faces altercations or arguments that can degenerate into animosity or misunderstanding. But if we choose to be peacemakers -- if we choose to act as children of God -- then we can make a positive difference for good, as did the Prince of Peace.

Dear Lord, help me, as a Chris­tian, realize that peacemaking is my heritage as a child of God. Help me remember that as a follower of Christ I must let my voice and my actions be used to strengthen your kingdom on earth, by the power of the Holy Spirit. I ask these things in my Savior’s name. Amen.

Comments

[Yvonne Serocki]

07:14 PM on 01/13/2012

Yes to peace! Let us come together in the unity of Spirit in the bond of peace. Let us see the One in the many and the many within the One Spirit of truth and freedom and love www.newheavenonearth.wordpress.com

[jgdyogiangel]

12:07 AM on 01/12/2012

I love his honesty and insight. His own nation hasn't really ever recognized his amazing accomplishments, but the world has and that's why he got the Nobel Peace Prize. He has helped millions since leaving office. I really love him.

[Claude Hosch]

09:04 PM on 07/04/2012

Ditto.

[PeaceUponUs]

02:24 PM on 01/10/2012

Our leaders are all living a lie. Every person that believes islam can enter into any treaty, agreements or even make a promise, and mean it, is living a lie. Islam has and always will be a tool of oppression. Islam is a political force that is devoted to taking away all personal freedoms. Anyone who professes they can live along side of islam has lied to themselves. Provide one example, just one, of where islam has honored their own words for anything other than the destruction of others.

[eric14]

03:43 PM on 01/10/2012

Peace upon all of us.

[montanadan]

12:58 PM on 01/12/2012

Ironic name ya got there.

[PeaceUponUs]

07:13 PM on 01/12/2012

Yeah, I got blocked under my other name. . .

[Gui Montag]

12:19 PM on 01/10/2012

Give back the money the Arabs gave you and maybe then you can talk.

[glenya7121]

11:18 AM on 01/10/2012

Jimmy Carter is nothing but a Hypocrit. He has done nothing but ''bash'' the former Bush Administration. He has made it ''clear'' that he hates the Jews. His Ego out weights his Brain or compassion. He was the ''worst'' president this country has ever had...He spreads ''hate'' everytime there is a microphone in his face. Is there anybody who takes him seriously. Why didn't he speak up last year when an Efgy of Obama was spread across Maain Street in Plains, Georgia, his hometown?

[montanadan]

01:00 PM on 01/12/2012

Jimmy, you had me at "bash the former Bush Administration."

[MumsToo]

10:09 AM on 01/10/2012

I've always liked Carter. My "religion" calls for peace, but I'm a Secular Humanist, and I don't believe in any god. No matter what people believe or don't believe, I think we all have some common goals. Most people want to be able to support and protect their family (whatever definition of family they live by); have food, shelter, and medical care; have some hope for the future for themselves and their children; and to have stability in their lives. These basic needs are tough to attain when war, hate, and greed dominate our lives.

[az0th]

07:40 AM on 01/10/2012

President Carter, a remarkably accomplished humanitarian.

[southingtonian]

02:25 AM on 01/10/2012

I find it difficult to put into words the depth of the respect I have for this man and his wife. His comportment under the weight of responsibility of the Presidency and the attacks leveled against him by the 'loyal opposition' was inspiring. And even more so the choices he made following the loss of a second term. A true non-partisan servant of all u.s. citizens.

[researcher]

01:38 AM on 01/10/2012

that peace deal was bought and paid for by the american tax payers of several billion of dollars to each nation each and every year since it was sighed.

americans pay other nations not to go to war with each other. gives one an idea of how imperialism and super power status works does it not.

a bankrupt nation paying other nations not to go to war with each other. still love that capitalism americans? thought so.

americans think they can buy anything. even politicians and the supreme court. ok they can. :-)

[PeaceUponUs]

07:58 AM on 01/10/2012

"americans pay other nations not to go to war with each other. gives one an idea of how imperialis­m and super power status works does it not." So, what system works better then? The "boot on the neck" socialism? How about Islamic Sharia? That would be kind wouldn't it? Strip everyone of rights and have the religious government decide who has a right to live and die? America has been the most positive entity in the history of the world. The very existence of the United States has saved more lives in this world than any other country. The United States has helped bring freedom to more people than any country in the history of the world and all of this was brought through the "imperialis­m and super power" of this country.

[P3]

12:57 AM on 01/10/2012

the quote: 'blessed are the peacemakers' here is about the arab-israeli deal but as we focus on the culture, we can tell Jimmy is saying Asia (China, Japan etc) has been blessed and become world powers because of the Godly character mentioned in the Christian bible is what brings about societal happiness and well-being; things like humble, gentle, serving, forgiving and caring for others

what Jimmy is not saying is the United State is being cursed because their character being displayed is pride, anger, bad mouthing, greed, selfishness and hating our neighbors is all too familiar and does not promote the 'general welfare' and this disorder will take its toll in many ways but it is most easily seen in gdp economic terms, interesting that they now have a misery index:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misery_index_%28economics%29

[ttsgw]

12:38 AM on 01/10/2012

Peace has never supported the military industry, its executives and owners (and employees).

[PeaceUponUs]

07:59 AM on 01/10/2012

Yes, Peace has supported the military. That is what protects our very freedoms.

[Sarah Trickey]

12:20 AM on 01/10/2012

What a wonderful human! I hope you spread good for many years to come, Mr. Carter! Thank you.

[Mark from atlanta]

10:36 PM on 01/09/2012

The best ex-president our nation has ever had.

He has my respect.

[PALEOLOGOS DRAGASH]

10:28 PM on 01/09/2012

A bold prediction:

A hundred, nay, ten years from now, Jimmy Carter will be hailed as THE greatest American President of the 20th Century and one of the 5 greatest American presidents of all time, right up there with Abraham Lincoln, James Madison, Teddy Roosevelt and John Adams -- and far, far ahead of FDR, Truman, JFK or Dwight Eisenhower.

Also: 10 years from now, Obama's presidency will be mentioned in the same embarrassed breath as Watergate, J. Edgar Hoover, Joseph McCarthy, Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and James Buchanan.

Mark these words and remember them 10 years from now.