Blessed Are The Peacemakers
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Matthew 5:9
"Blessed"
This is to be happy with an eternal mindset. It's not temporary happiness, but lifelong joy. This is to find absolute peace in your life, no matter your circumstances. To be “blessed” is to understand that you have been given grace by a Holy God. Even though we are dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1-3), it is God who has chosen to make us alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4). “For by Grace are we Saved Through Faith” in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). This comprehension should bring to you much joy!
To be "blessed" is to understand and submit to the Sovereignty of God in all situations. Whether things are going well or poorly, you know that you have been blessed by the Supreme Ruler of the Universe. You surrender to His Sovereign will and you have submitted to His decree. To be “blessed” is to view yourself as nothing more than a servant of the King, and no matter the assignment given to you, you will joyfully carry it out with all hope of eternity.
As you consider “blessings” don’t think of just physical gifts that God gives to us — that is a worldly mindset. To be "blessed" is to be totally satisfied in Christ no matter your circumstances. The difference between a genuine believer in Christ and one who is just in search of “blessings” is found in the result of the search. The world is seeking the benefits of Jesus, where the true believer is pursing Christ Himself. The world calls healing a “blessing,” but will not call sickness a “blessing.” The world will call a prosperous person “blessed,” but will not understand that a poor man can be “blessed.” It is not the results of Christ that are the blessings, but it is Jesus Christ Himself. He is sufficient. He is all-satisfying. Pursue Him as a deer pants for the water (Psalm 42:1-2).
"Peacemakers"
In all things the believer in Christ should be known as a peacemaker. The opposite characteristic would be "one who stirs up dissent or trouble." To be a peacemaker is a Godly characteristic, and we can see this through God's common grace. God has every right to utterly and completely destroy every human being on this planet, but by His common grace, God gives good things and allows there to be peace. Simply allowing a person who is at enmity with God is an offer of common grace from a Sovereign Creator to sinful man. God's common Grace of peace should be reflected in our life by the way that we treat people and conduct ourselves in relationships. If we are known as someone who causes trouble or stirs up drama, then our testimony is ungodly. The believer should be known as one who brings peace.
Later in Matthew 5:44-45 we see a further description of this...
"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
"Called sons of God"
We see this in both verse 9 and verse 45. The idea behind what Jesus is saying is that a son is a reflection of his father... meaning, he LOOKS LIKE his father. And in the same way, we should look like our Father in heaven by being peacemakers on this earth.
Note: The instruction is NOT "to be peaceful"... instead, it is to be a "peacemaker"... we are to be actively engaging in ways to be makers of peace. We are to BE peacemakers. This should be directly reflective in your relationships, your work, your marriage and your parenting. You should be a peacemaker.
If your marriage is known as one that is not peaceful, then it is an ungodly marriage. You need to reconcile your marriage by being the peacemaker. You should be the most peaceful person in your home. You should create an atmosphere of peace for your wife and your kids. They should feel safe around you. They should feel secured around you. They should feel most empowered when you are around. You should bring peace to your home. You should actively be pursuing peaceful relationships with your wife and kids. To not do this is to be living an ungodly life.
Summary of the Beatitude
Your life should not be characterized by chaos and anxiety. These are not godly characteristics. Your life should not be characterize by fear and confusion. These are not godly characteristics. Your life should be characterized by peace. You should be a peaceful person. You should be a peacemaker.
Ways that YOU can be a peacemaker today:
1. Pray for your family. Intentional engage your heart and spirit in prying for your family.
2. Pray for those whom you have trouble building relationships with. This is known as the "mother-in-law prayer"... Pray for those whom you have a difficult time enjoying being around. Pray for your enemies. Pray for those who are trying to take your job. Pray for the co-worker who is cheating the company and leaving you with all the work. Pray for the co-worker that annoys the heck out of you.
3. Actively pursue love in your relationships. Don't just be causal with people... Be intentional in conversations. Actively pursue a purpose in your relationships. God has placed these people in your circle for a purpose. YOU need to decide that you are going to intentionally engage in actively building up the relationship in the bond of peace. This relationship building should ALWAYS result in a conversation about Jesus Christ.
Find a way to be a peacemaker today. Actively engage in that responsibility as a son of God.
This is to be happy with an eternal mindset. It's not temporary happiness, but lifelong joy. This is to find absolute peace in your life, no matter your circumstances. To be “blessed” is to understand that you have been given grace by a Holy God. Even though we are dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1-3), it is God who has chosen to make us alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4). “For by Grace are we Saved Through Faith” in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). This comprehension should bring to you much joy!
To be "blessed" is to understand and submit to the Sovereignty of God in all situations. Whether things are going well or poorly, you know that you have been blessed by the Supreme Ruler of the Universe. You surrender to His Sovereign will and you have submitted to His decree. To be “blessed” is to view yourself as nothing more than a servant of the King, and no matter the assignment given to you, you will joyfully carry it out with all hope of eternity.
As you consider “blessings” don’t think of just physical gifts that God gives to us — that is a worldly mindset. To be "blessed" is to be totally satisfied in Christ no matter your circumstances. The difference between a genuine believer in Christ and one who is just in search of “blessings” is found in the result of the search. The world is seeking the benefits of Jesus, where the true believer is pursing Christ Himself. The world calls healing a “blessing,” but will not call sickness a “blessing.” The world will call a prosperous person “blessed,” but will not understand that a poor man can be “blessed.” It is not the results of Christ that are the blessings, but it is Jesus Christ Himself. He is sufficient. He is all-satisfying. Pursue Him as a deer pants for the water (Psalm 42:1-2).
"Peacemakers"
In all things the believer in Christ should be known as a peacemaker. The opposite characteristic would be "one who stirs up dissent or trouble." To be a peacemaker is a Godly characteristic, and we can see this through God's common grace. God has every right to utterly and completely destroy every human being on this planet, but by His common grace, God gives good things and allows there to be peace. Simply allowing a person who is at enmity with God is an offer of common grace from a Sovereign Creator to sinful man. God's common Grace of peace should be reflected in our life by the way that we treat people and conduct ourselves in relationships. If we are known as someone who causes trouble or stirs up drama, then our testimony is ungodly. The believer should be known as one who brings peace.
Later in Matthew 5:44-45 we see a further description of this...
"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
"Called sons of God"
We see this in both verse 9 and verse 45. The idea behind what Jesus is saying is that a son is a reflection of his father... meaning, he LOOKS LIKE his father. And in the same way, we should look like our Father in heaven by being peacemakers on this earth.
Note: The instruction is NOT "to be peaceful"... instead, it is to be a "peacemaker"... we are to be actively engaging in ways to be makers of peace. We are to BE peacemakers. This should be directly reflective in your relationships, your work, your marriage and your parenting. You should be a peacemaker.
If your marriage is known as one that is not peaceful, then it is an ungodly marriage. You need to reconcile your marriage by being the peacemaker. You should be the most peaceful person in your home. You should create an atmosphere of peace for your wife and your kids. They should feel safe around you. They should feel secured around you. They should feel most empowered when you are around. You should bring peace to your home. You should actively be pursuing peaceful relationships with your wife and kids. To not do this is to be living an ungodly life.
Summary of the Beatitude
Your life should not be characterized by chaos and anxiety. These are not godly characteristics. Your life should not be characterize by fear and confusion. These are not godly characteristics. Your life should be characterized by peace. You should be a peaceful person. You should be a peacemaker.
Ways that YOU can be a peacemaker today:
1. Pray for your family. Intentional engage your heart and spirit in prying for your family.
2. Pray for those whom you have trouble building relationships with. This is known as the "mother-in-law prayer"... Pray for those whom you have a difficult time enjoying being around. Pray for your enemies. Pray for those who are trying to take your job. Pray for the co-worker who is cheating the company and leaving you with all the work. Pray for the co-worker that annoys the heck out of you.
3. Actively pursue love in your relationships. Don't just be causal with people... Be intentional in conversations. Actively pursue a purpose in your relationships. God has placed these people in your circle for a purpose. YOU need to decide that you are going to intentionally engage in actively building up the relationship in the bond of peace. This relationship building should ALWAYS result in a conversation about Jesus Christ.
Find a way to be a peacemaker today. Actively engage in that responsibility as a son of God.
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