“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” Matthew 5:9.
Amidst the troubling trends of this age, this bit of levity found on a bumper sticker gave me cause for some laughter: “Forget World Peace; Visualize Using Your Turn Signal.”
World peace is a great goal, although largely elusive throughout human history. Human warring tendencies have resulted in far more years of bloodshed and violence than years of peace.
The Prince of Peace alone will one day bring about true world peace, but He calls His followers to join Him in another type of peacemaking work today. This call to peacemaking is a call to reconciliation. He would use us as instruments of healing for broken relationships between people, and ultimately between God and people.
Peacemaking, as Jesus calls us to, is not peace at any price. As the ultimate peacemaker, we see that HIs efforts were extremely costly; to the point of death. Romans 5:10 reminds us that, “while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.” Thus, our peacemaking role is largely that of reconciling enemy sinners to a holy God through the sacrifice of Christ. Peacemaking, then, is evangelism and outreach.
Why should we bother with peacemaking? Many are enemies of Christ and hostile to the message and messengers of reconciliation. The answer is simple: such we once were. Peacemaking is really an extension and response to all the previous Beatitudes we see in Matthew 5:3-8. Peacemaking is the fruit of the reconciliation we have freely received through grace. Grateful, forgiven sinners are peacemakers with the gospel.
“How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'” Isaiah 52:7.
©Steve Taylor, 2022 --Used by permission
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