Peacemakers  

Peace is something we all crave, and yet it’s something that surprisingly few people ever lay hold of in their lives. Why is that? 

There’s not a single person on this planet, I’m pretty sure, who doesn’t crave peace. So why do we get this so wrong? 

You see it happening in social media. What a strange animal it is. On the one hand, these days, with all the political correctness that’s doing the rounds, we dare not say anything that offends people. And yet, the vitriol, the criticism, the anger over contrary points of view, over dissent for the evolving orthodoxy of this age, is astounding!

The political divide between left and right has never been greater although we still seem to be able to hurl ever larger rocks at each other across that yawning chasm. It’s so bad that it’s threatening the very foundations of democracy.

So what’s the answer? Well, for those of us who call ourselves Christians, here it is:

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

There’s a price to bringing peace. Sometimes you have to zip your lip and just shut up! That’s not always easy. 

Other times you have to make sacrifices that seem so unfair, just to bring peace. Whether it’s at a macro-scale, between different people, groups, or political perspectives, or on a more personal, micro-scale between you and the person who annoys you most, making peace will always cost you something.

But when you choose to be the peacemaker, when you take the initiative, when you pay the price, two things will happen. Firstly, God will bless you. Secondly, you’ll be witnessing Christ’s love pouring into a divided world in a way that people will notice —you’ll be called a child of God.

Take the initiative; be the peacemaker, whatever it may cost you.

Remember: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Life Application Questions

• What are some areas of your life in which you experience conflict? Do you find yourself caught in arguments in your own home, at work, online?   
• Is it a challenge for you to stay silent, or make sacrifices in order to bring peace? What price are you willing to pay to experience more peace in your life? 
• Ask God to fill you with His peace so you can convey it to others. Ask that He will bless you as you do. 
• How can you take the initiative today to become a peacemaker?

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