Blessed Are
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9 (ESV)
I am a peacemaker! When disharmony erupts, I go into “fingernails-on-the-blackboard mode”. I become extremely uncomfortable and want to look for the nearest exit. The nights are long and I don’t sleep well as I lay there searching for peaceful ways to resolve issues. The thought of hearing he said/she said stuff sends me to Crazyland because that means more than one person has been hurt and usually the truth lies in the middle. However, to get to the truth, one has to wade through a sloppy, stinkin’ swamp of cruel accusations.
Avoiding the conflict isn’t enough. While being a peacemaker, we want to stop the escalation of disputes, put the tensions aside and pursue reconciliation at the root cause. This becomes very tricky when it involves people we know and love. But it has to be done. As believers who promote peace, we often find ourselves assigned to situations with those above our pay grade. Being a mediator teaches us life-lessons we won’t ever forget. We become good listeners.
True peace is often linked to a restored relationship with God, which then enables individuals to bring peace to others. Sometimes the disharmony involves only one person who has gone off the rails but usually those demons have attacked both sides by inflating pride and ego. Restoring a relationship with God involves wisdom because our natural reaction is to seek revenge and retaliate in creative but inappropriate ways.
Forgiveness plays a huge role in peacemaking. We must work at replacing contention with building bridges and help tear down the walls. Believe me when I say they don’t come down easily. We remember…a quick flashback, suspicious glance, sharp and unkind words. But that was then and this is now.
Peacemaking is considered a cornerstone of Christian faith in action, reflecting the character of Jesus. We cannot hold a grudge and reflect Jesus’s love at the same time. It isn’t possible. All Eyes on Jesus should become our motto as we try to think and act more like Him. Praying for others is vital to have complete and peaceful restoration in any relationship.
So do you want to be a peacemaker?
Blessed are the true peacemakers
With contentment for the fold
They cling to promises of heaven
Working in the field of souls
Loving Lord, thank You for being our peacemaker. Help us to learn to live peacefully as we strive to become more like You. AMEN.