Sept. 19, 2014 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matt. 5:9) The idea of peace dominates the Scriptures. There was peace in the beginning when God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden. However, they sinned and violated the wonderful peace they experienced before their sins. Paul declared that Jesus died on the cross to reestablish the peace between man and God: “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near” (Eph. 2:14-17). It is no wonder that Isaiah foresaw Jesus and called Him the “Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). Because of Jesus, the greatest peacemaker ever, we can experience peace with God, peace with others and peace in our own hearts. Now that we have experienced peace Jesus calls us to become peacemakers. As the peacemakers of God we are different than politicians, diplomats, arbitrators, and peace organizations. In fact, the world’s peacemakers have a terrible failure record. The history of the world has been one war after another. In our own nation the crime rate is horrible with more people being killed with guns than have probably died in all of the wars. Interpersonal relationships are breaking down everywhere. People are angrier today than I can remember in my lifetime. All of this and more too, points to how desperately we need peacemakers. James (3:16-18) tells us that wisdom that is from above and reflects itself in the conduct of God’s children is first pure. It is not peace sought at the expense of righteousness. The Hebrew writer said, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). It is not either/or; it is both. We must not sacrifice truth for the sake of peace. Paul instructed us to “Pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another” (Rom. 14:19). William Barclay gives the following of “shalom:” “In Hebrew peace is never only a negative state; it never means only the absence of trouble; in Hebrew peace always means everything which makes for a man’s highest good….he wishes for him the presence of all good things. In the Bible peace means not only freedom from all trouble; it means enjoyment of all good.” The Greek word for “peace” means tranquility, and is used to describe a boat sailing on a calm sea. It means harmony, tranquility, and unity as it exists between two parties. Notice that the term used in the beatitude is “peacemaker.” This is an action word, implying that the Christian is to be busy making peace. First, we should be busy making peace between sinners and the Lord through the gospel of peace (Rom. 10:15). Any lasting peace begins with a right relationship with God. Second, we must learn to be peacemakers at home. Quarreling and disagreements and unwillingness to respect God’s desire for families causes much unrest and contention and we must strive to make peace (Rom. 12:18). Third, peacemakers are needed in our churches. Holding grudges and evil speaking causes conflicts and unrest and we need peacemakers (Gen. 13:8). To be called a “son of God” means that one is living out in his/her life a character quality which is true of God himself. This is one of the highest compliments and blessing one can experience.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 15:27:11 +0000
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