Weekly devotion: Called to be peacemakers
Musalaha
A group of women take part in a bridge-building workshop that Musalaha ran for Muslim and Christian women in Bethlehem
This week we’re praying for our partner, Musalaha, an organisation that teaches, trains and facilitates reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians, based on biblical principles. Musalaha, which means ‘reconciliation’ in Arabic, was founded in 1990. Since then, it has impacted 5,302 people through 11 programmes, which draw together people from both sides of the conflict and promote unity and reconciliation.
Embrace supports Musalaha’s ‘Women in Reconciliation’ programme. Against a backdrop of intensifying violence and a lack of meaningful political dialogue, Musalaha works on the premise that only a bottom-up, grassroots approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can yield any significant change.
The women’s project brings together Israeli and Palestinian women through a four-day desert encounter and five further follow-up training sessions. The women who attend are trained in the values of peace, tolerance, non-violence, gender equality and human rights. They are also trained to recognise barriers to conflict resolution caused by misinformation, incitement and biased narratives.
Bible reading
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:3-10
Thought
There has been a worrying escalation of deaths, violence and hate rhetoric in the Israel-Palestine conflict this year. Against this deeply challenging and pressured backdrop, the women in the Musalaha programme are learning to listen compassionately to the ‘other side’ and form meaningful relationships across the divide.
Ask yourself: God calls us to be peacemakers, not peacekeepers. What is the difference, and how might being a peacemaker look in your life?
Prayer
Loving God,
We thank you for this incredible organisation, working to bring light into the darkness, turn enmity into friendship, and create love from discord.
We pray for the Palestinians and Israelis who lead Musalaha. Fill them with your love and hope, and may they continue to shine for you. Guard their hearts in amongst the escalating violence.
We pray for the women who attend Musalaha’s training sessions. Grant them the ability to lay aside barriers, to listen, to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. May you change them from within and use them to create ripple effects of change in their families and communities.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
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