Abundant Grace Fellowship
Blessed Are The Peacemakers
Blessed Are The Peacemakers
By Pastor J.D. Link
Abundant
Are you a peacemaker, or a troublemaker? Are you known as one who likes to resolve things peacefully, or as one who likes to fight at the drop of a hat, and will drop a hat to fight? Believe it or not, there are people who thrive on strife. They’re at their “best” when they are right in the big middle of chaos, often times stirring the pot themselves. As children of God, that should not be so. Mt. 5:9 says “Blessed (happy, fortunate, well off) are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God”. Christians should be about the business of peace making, not causing strife.
God’s Word tells us that we should follow after the things which make for peace (Rom 14:19, 2Tim 2:22, Heb 12:14). The Greek word for follow used here is dioko, which means to flee to or pursue. When we use the word follow, we usually mean a casual “lollygag”; but here it means to be in “hot pursuit”! King David said in Psalm 34:14 “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it”. Should we not be children of peace? After all, our Lord Jesus Christ is called “The Prince of Peace” (Isa 9:6); and many places in Scripture call our Father in Heaven “The God of peace” (Phip 4:9, 1Thes 5:23, Heb 13:20, etc.). Galatians 5:22 tells us peace is a fruit of the Spirit of God abiding in us. Seeing then that God is our Father and Jesus our example, we should be peaceful people.
Living in peace is not just a good idea, it’s actually a commandment of God. Jesus said for us to have peace with each other in Mark 9:50, and in 1Cor 7:15 the Apostle Paul reminds us that God has called us to peace. Although living in peace is not one of the Ten Commandments, peace was certainly a result of them. Think about it: The keeping of the first four resulted in peace with God; keeping number five & seven resulted in peace in the home; and keeping six, eight, nine & ten resulted in peace with your neighbor( see Ex 20:1-17).
What if you’ve tried your hardest to make peace in a situation, but the other party refuses? Good question. In Romans 12:18, Paul says “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men”. In other words, sometimes it is not possible; but we are only responsible for doing our part, not theirs. As the Psalmist said, “I am for peace, but they are for war”. Every effort should be made for peace on our end (individually or as a nation); but if it is not accepted, you are not responsible. In that case, you do what you need to do (Neh 4:14, Ps 35:1, 144:1, Zech 10:5, 1Cor 16:13, Heb 11:32-34).
Striving for peace does not mean compromising the clear truths of the Scriptures in order to have it. It isn’t “peace at all costs”; it is “peace as much as possible”. Many Christians won’t take a strong stand for what is clearly right and Biblical; and for an excuse they say they don’t want to cause division, because that isn’t peaceable. In actuality, it’s because the salt has lost it’s savor (Mt 5:13). You can be peaceable and still stand for what is right. The three Hebrew boys did in Daniel chapter three. Daniel himself did in Daniel chapter six. Peter and the other Apostles did in Acts chapter five. Unfortunately, the church has taken on much of the world’s philosophy concerning peace, which is to not offend at all cost. Lie, compromise, fold like an accordion, stand for nothing; just be politically correct, don’t offend whatever you do! That just makes me want to barf. Again, pursue peace within the parameters of obedience to God‘s Word, and upholding the truth.
I pray this has helped you in understanding your role as a peacemaker, and I’ll leave you with these words I saw on a sign: No Jesus, No peace. Know Jesus, Know peace. Got Jesus? Until next time, rejoice in the Lord! (Phip 4:4)