“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9
October 28, 2024
The history of the human race is not pretty. Peace is hard to find. Wars and relational conflicts fill up the story of life. Jesus gives high marks for peacemakers. However, the Sermon on the Mount is not a political manifesto. Nor is it how to become a Christian. Jesus wants His people to seek to enable others to establish harmonious relationships. To do this we have to deal with the reality of sin. “Only those who have first tasted peace with God at the cross of Christ can become peacemakers” (James M. Boice). Kingdom citizens will not delight in divisions, bitterness, strife, or some petty divide and conquer mentality. Peacemakers seek to extinguish the flames of strife and disharmony. Peacemakers may be called troublemakers because they are interrupters of unresolved conflict (e.g. 1 Kgs. 18:17). Ask God to make you a peacemaker and be ready for the price for doing so.
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“It is Satan who kindles the fire of contention in men’s hearts and stands and warms himself at the flames.” Thomas Watson