The Peacemakers
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Mt 5.9).
A peacemaker isn’t someone who makes peace where there is conflict. Rather, he is someone who is at peace in the midst of conflict.
Jesus Christ, the “prince of peace,” (Isaiah 9.6) fills those who follow Him with His peace, which is, literally, His presence. But practically it is deliverance from doubt, fear and anxiety. It is having resolute calm in any circumstance knowing Christ has already overcome, already won. It is the confidence that we are ‘in’ Him – we reside in His victory and His victory resides in us.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (John 14.27). The peace of the world is the absence of conflict. Jesus’ peace is the absence of anxiety within conflict. The world never experiences real peace, it cannot, because conflict is a continual byproduct of the sin that resides within mankind. So people, groups, parties and nations fight – it’s what they do, it’s driven by sin.
There is only one cure for conflict experienced both within the heart of man, and externally, in relationships – the peace that is found only in Jesus Christ.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace, in the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16.33). This is the “peace of God which passes all understanding” (Phillipians 4:17).
The peacemaker is like Christ, in that he or she brings that inner peace with them, representing the solution to any conflict – just as Christ did.
Some will receive the message and enter in to His peace – others will not. They’ll resent the suggestion that they have a problem at all, or resent someone trying to ‘fix’ them, or turn the tables and say it is ‘you’ that has the problem – Jesus told us people would react this way, because they did with Him, and they turned the conflict toward Him – as they do toward His followers today.
And ‘peacemaker’ begins to seem like an oxymoron, as rejection and hostility is leveled against the one offering peace.
Oddly, this is God’s way to save the world. And it works. He fills your heart with peace, delivering you from fear, and you run forward into the world, with the good news that they don’t have to fight, for Jesus loves them and peace is theirs in Christ. Some will hear. Most will not – and you become the target.
Read through the life of Christ, this is the life of the peacemaker. Any takers? If you are in Christ I already know your response because His peace is real – “Absolutely”, right? Then let’s go – run to the battle.
Sincerely,
Ed
