Precious Peace  — A LifeWords Devotion

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. (NLT)

Most people are in favour of peace – even those whose expertise is war. So it is no surprise that Jesus pronounces blessing on those who work for peace. Yet, just like the other beatitudes of Jesus, this one can be misunderstood.

Peacemaking is not just a matter of being nice to all and sundry. Peacemaking can involve getting people to face uncomfortable truths. A peacemaker is not like one of those fire blankets used to smother a blaze. A peacemaker doesn’t avoid conflict, but seeks to face it and resolve it. Peace doesn’t usually come cheaply.

Peacemakers are not naïve, but are deeply aware of our flawed human condition. They know their role is necessary, because human beings are not naturally peaceful; we can be competitive and self-centred. Peacemakers look to God to transform human nature, so as to make peace possible.

And our text reminds us that peacemaking is the mark of a child of God. The point being that just as a child will resemble its earthy father, so too will a child of the heavenly Father.

Our God is in the peacemaking business, making peace with Himself possible, through Jesus. Whenever we work for true peace between humans, we show ourselves to be imitators of the One who has gone to the ends of the earth to bring peace: not only between humans, but between those humans and Himself.

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Blessings

David

Photo by Harli Marten