31 January 2023 - Blessed are the peacemakers

Matthew 5:9 (NKJV) Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Matthew 5:9 (MSG) “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

Most of us are pretty great at being peacekeepers, but we’re not so great at being peacemakers. There’s a big difference between those two words. Peacekeepers avoid conflict. They look for a short-term resolution, even if the problem is ongoing. But peacemakers take a long-term view. They work out differences that bring honour to God and one another. Peacekeepers hunker down and do what it takes to keep everyone from exploding. They are passive. Peacemakers make an active effort to restore relationships. Peacekeepers take the path of least resistance. Peacemakers take the path of discipleship. Peacekeepers focus on themselves and what makes it personally easy. Peacemakers are focused on God and others.

As believers, the Bible instructs us to live in peace knowing it will take effort – Hebrews 12:14 (NIV) Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. A peacemaker is someone who emulates Jesus — called the Prince of Peace — by working to reconcile people with God and with each other.

Colossians 1:20 (ESV) . . . and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Jesus laid down His life to make peace between God and sinners, and when we can carry that message of peace to others, we are peacemakers. God delights in those who reconcile others to Himself.

God reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18 (ESV) All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

There is no real peace apart from a relationship with God. Romans 5:1 (ESV) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

True peace is found only in a restored relationship with God. Isaiah 48:22 (ESV) “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” Jesus is called the Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6, and so every peacemaker joins with Him in making peace where trouble rises. He has become our peace, so that in Him, we can be peacemakers.

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Ephesians 2:14-18 (NIV) For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

May you be called blessed today because you are a peacemaker.