"Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9)
Considering the presence of
conflict in our world, the need for peacemakers should be obvious. Jesus’ call to be a peacemaker is a call to
see ourselves as agents of reconciliation. Today we consider the implications
of Jesus' statement in order to understand how we can be effective peacemakers.
God is a peace-loving God, and a peace-making God.
Jesus is the Prince
of Peace who came to bring peace on earth.
John 14:27
John 14:27
“Blessed are the Peacemakers” v.9a
peacemakers – workers
of peace; peace restorers
One who
arbitrates peace without becoming involved
Shalom is the Hebrew
equivalent for the word “peace” that primarily signifies wholeness.
Peace is not the
absence of something; rather it is the presence of
something. True peace is the presence of
righteousness.
Heavenly peace
is a peace which is personal and permanent not dependent on outward circumstances.
Peacemakers are:
·
Persons who know
peace.
·
Persons who know the power
of peace:
To transform. Hebrews 12:14
To encourage.
Romans 14:19
·
Persons who wage peace
against strife.
Every
peacemaker is a fighter, but not every fighter is a
peacemaker. Peacemakers fight in
peace as well as for peace.
·
Persons who share peace
with others.
Peace does not
mean the absence of conflict but the absence of strife.
The Prince of
Peace brought Jew and Gentile together as God’s chosen people.
"Christ as Savior brings peace with God; Christ as Lord brings
the peace of God."
"For they shall be called sons of God"
"shall
be called" = recognized as; acknowledged to be
“children
of God” = "to partake of the nature of”
