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"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God"
Conflict has been a part of the human condition since the beginning when Cain slew Able. Every war is the war to end all wars and yet we persist. We have had guns called peacemakers and bombs called pacemakers. We sign treaties and build walls and still true peace eludes us. World peace was not what was on the mind of Jesus when He shared this beatitude with us. He knew that true world peace would not come until He once again returned. The peace Jesus was talking about is peace between neighbors, friends, siblings and parents. Peace between us and God.
Many of the conflicts throughout history started because we would rather be right and defend that then to admit we were wrong or to offer grace and make peace. We do not have peace because to put it in harsh but truthful terms we are self-centered little punks. I remember as a child I was not happy unless I was causing trouble, usually with my older brother. I was that kid in the back seat on the long drive “not” touching him. His misery was what made the trip go faster. Rest assured that at some point I paid a heavy price for my lack of peace. When we seek turmoil instead of peace even to this day there is a price to pay.
1 Thessalonians tells us “…live in peace with one another.” Happy are the peacemakers. Peacemakers are people who breathe grace, they are people who draw on the goodness and power of Jesus Christ and then bring His love, mercy, forgiveness and strength to daily conflicts. When we walk into any conflict the attitude we bring with us will greatly affect the outcome. If we come into the conflict with the expectation that we are right will not be moved then the conflict is already at a standstill and will not be resolved. Hebrews says ‘Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” With all men, we often only seek peace with those that mean something to us, wit those we have an emotional or social bound with. With those that can bring something us and we can benefit from the peace. Yet if we are to walk in holiness in righteousness, in sanctification we are to seek peace with ALL men.
As a Christian it all comes back to God. God is all about peace. This is hard to grasp at times as the Bible is filled with conflict, and the Bible itself causes conflict. When you think about it; it is and was because people have had issue with what God has had to say is truth. It has to do with being self-centered and only wanting what they want and not what God wants. God wants us to have peace with Him, with His creation and peace with each other. That peace can come through a relationship with Jesus Christ. “Therefore, having been justified by faith we have peace through our Lord Jesus Christ” ( Romans 5:1) When we are at peace we can give peace to those around us, when have been given grace we can give grace to those around us. “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” ( 2 Corinthians 5:18)
We have all heard the saying “Like father like son” “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God”. If we are to truly be sons of God we are to be peacemakers, being at peace with each other and with God. We may never achieve world peace, yet those who commit to being peacemakers will have peace that comes from within and will come to the fullness in life and the kingdom of God.
Blessings
H
