SHEILA WALSH —

Some of God’s most faithful servants showed up prepared to do the work of the Kingdom. The field of their labors was a courtroom in Charleston, South Carolina. They came, on mission, bearing seeds of peace — and they sowed the seeds and watered them with their tears.

A few weeks have passed, but the story still amazes.

They sat in the courtroom listening to the arraignment of the young man who had admitted taking the lives of the people they loved most in the world, an act he hoped would begin a racial war.

But God had sent His servants to the front lines in Charleston armed with only one weapon — the love of Christ.

The judge turned to the family members and asked if they had anything to say before he made a decision concerning bond.

One by one, each family representative addressed the young man who took so much from them. I will never forget what they said to him.

“I forgive you…”

“I forgive you…”

“May God have mercy on your soul …”

It was awe inspiring. Breathtaking.

The wisdom of God just doesn’t look anything like the wisdom of the world. The world’s wisdom screams for self-promotion and vengeance and, when it is sown, it produces a crop of division and hate.

God’s wisdom isn’t like that at all. James says, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere … Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” (James 3:17-18 NIV)

I think the important thing to remember from both this verse and from the example of our brothers and sisters in Charleston is that sometimes joining God in His redemptive mission is going to be difficult, costly work. And we will need to water our work with tears.

If we are to fulfill our God-ordained roles as loving peacemakers, it will take some action, some sacrifice on our part, but we have the sure hope that our labor is not in vain. God will honor it.

“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” (Psalm 126:5-6 NIV)

When we join God doing the difficult work of scattering seeds of love and grace, of forgiveness and peace into our sin-broken world, we have beautiful hope that we will one day return singing with joy as we witness the harvest God has produced through our faithful service.

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT)

And there will come a day when God shall wipe away all tears.