Friday, May 6, 2016

Peace-making



Matthew 5:9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Peace. What a peaceful word. I read that in this seventh (out of nine) of the Beatitudes with which Christ began His Sermon on the Mount occurs the first mention in the New Testament of the important word “peace.” But how can one be a peacemaker? Note that Christ did not say: “Blessed are the pacifists.” There are many today who talk about peace, but how does one make peace? The answer lies in the example of Christ Himself. He is the Prince of Peace - Isaiah 9:6, and He “made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself” - Colossians 1:20.

You could get married by a “Justice of the Peace”, you could give a “Peace sign” to people, or find assistance from someone “disturbing the peace” by flagging down a “Peace Officer” As a new Christian, one of the very first things that I gravitated to was the Beatitudes; especially to the “peacemaker”. I wanted so much to be a peacemaker because I was a child of God. Why not, “peace” is one of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23.

But in a “fallen” world, the real problem is that there can be no lasting peace between man and man as long as there is enmity between man and God. The answer: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” - Romans 5:1. “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ” - 2 Corinthians 5:18. With that problem settled, we are now in a position to become true peacemakers, for we also can lead others to God through Jesus Christ. He “hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we . . . pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” - 2 Corinthians 5:18-20.

John 14:27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

One devotional points out that as ambassadors for Christ, we are true ambassadors for peace ... peacemakers. The best possible contribution we can make toward world peace, racial peace, industrial peace, family peace, or personal peace is to help people become reconciled to God through faith in the peace-making work of Christ on the cross. “These things I have spoken unto you,” says the Lord Jesus, “that in me ye might have peace” - John 16:33.

Shalom in Christ, Brian

No comments: