The Peacemakers 08-18-2024
Text: Matthew 5:9
When Jesus began His ministry, it didn't take long for large crowds to form so they could listen to Him teach. At one point, He taught what we call the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in chapter's five through seven in the Gospel of Matthew. He began His teaching that day with ten Beatitudes. A beatitude is something that shows us how to receive supreme blessedness and exalted happiness from God. These ten verses teach us the keys to true happiness in this life along with the benefits we receive for living a Godly life. They answer the questions from the people that followed Jesus then and today about how they can qualify to enter into God's Kingdom. After almost 2,000 years these teachings still remain relevant.
This morning, I want us to focus on the beatitude found in verse nine where Jesus said: "Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called Children of God." Often the title 'peacemaker' calls to mind a group of people gathered around a table trying to hammer out an agreement to bring an end to a war or some other international disagreement. But this is not what Jesus is speaking about. The peace that Jesus is speaking of is the peace that comes to us when we accept Him as our Savior. Then everyone who does this earns the distinction of becoming a Child of God. As children of God, we then become equal heirs along with Jesus to all that Heaven has to offer.
Exactly who are these peacemakers that Jesus spoke of? They are those who work to make peace in families, in the church, in the workplace, and in the community. How do they accomplish this? They are quick to forgive, always demonstrate God's love in their hearts and through their actions, and work to build up others rather than tear them down. All of us can benefit from these kinds of peacemakers in our lives and more importantly, we can become these kinds of people.
What makes peacemakers quick to forgive? They have no hidden agendas but instead have open and tender hearts, and they look for the best in others. Jesus was always quick to forgive, and He is our role model on this subject. John 4 tells us how He forgave the woman at the well. He forgave His crucifiers as shown in Luke 23:34. Also while on the cross, Luke 23:40-43 tells how He forgave one of the two thieves that were crucified along with Him. Because we have benefited from the forgiveness of our own sins, we must also be forgiving of others. When we look for the best in others, have open and tender hearts, and are quick to forgive, we become peacemakers in this world.
Peacemakers also demonstrate the love of God. This is done by sacrificing of ourselves for the benefit of others. Sacrificing includes giving of our time, money, or possessions to benefit others. Making these kinds of sacrifices demonstrate the love of God. When we quickly forgive and reconcile with those who have done something wrong or hurt us, we are showing the love of God. When we take a loving look at situations that divide people and work to close those divides, we are demonstrating the love of God.
Peacemakers focus on redemption rather than anger and revenge. This is done when we refuse to make mountains out of molehills. It happens when we focus on reconciliation rather than building barriers. Our goal should be to pull people together rather than pushing them apart.
Peacemakers are Church Builders. The church is built up by creating an atmosphere of excitement for what Jesus can do for us and through us. Churches are made up of all kinds of people and personalities. But we can't allow destructive divisions to develop and fester. Instead, we must ensure that harmony exists among all the people of the Church. Communication must be ongoing and used to work out misunderstandings and eliminate distrust. Most of all, there must always be a fellowship of love within the Church. This is how we show we are peacemakers and demonstrate the love of God.
These few simple words given to us by Jesus during that sermon can change lives. Peacemakers live like Jesus. That must always be our goal. He has shown us all how we are to live. It isn't always going to be easy. All of us have or will have times and situations where people will hurt us terribly. They will accuse us of things we never did, make decisions that negatively effect on our personal or work life, and people we thought were good friends will do something that leave us hurt and scratching our heads wondering what happened. There will be many who will lash out at us, try to tear our reputations apart, mock us, or even try to harm our relationships with friends and family members. But we must never let this stop us from living the kind of life that gives us the ability to become Children of God.
If there were more ordinary people working to be peacemakers in this world, perhaps we would need less diplomats working in rooms hashing agreements to end or avoid wars and conflicts. Like them, we may not always be successful in our efforts to be peacemakers. And there will be times where we won't know if our efforts have actually succeeded. But we must never stop trying. A seed that we planted somewhere along the line may take root and grow without us knowing until we get to Heaven. That's why we must never give up our role as peacemakers in every aspect of our life. If we plant the seed, our God is powerful enough to make it grow and come to life.
Until we meet again, may God bless and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.