Blessed are the Peacemakers

“Blessed are the Peacemakers”
By Pastor Kent Munsey
April 18, 2021

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

-Matthew 5:9 (NIV)

The order of the beatitudes are important because when we realize that we are poor in spirit, we will realize that we are bankrupt before God. We can offer nothing for our sin. We will begin to mourn. That mourning over our sin produces meekness, which is humility. That meekness creates a hunger and a thirst for righteousness. After we are filled with the righteousness of Christ, we will be able to be merciful. When we are merciful, then we will be pure in heart. When we are pure in heart, we will become peacemakers. When we help others find peace with God and with others, we will be persecuted. When we are persecuted for helping others be at peace with others and with God, we will leap for joy. If we are going to make peace with God, if we are going to make peace with others, we need to know what peace is. 

Peace is in our past. In the creation story, God created the heavens and the earth. Then, God created Adam and Eve. In the garden, we see that God was at peace. He was in community and in relationship with Adam and Eve. God gave them authority and dominion. However, as a result of the fall, when sin entered the world, so did sickness and conflict. But, there is good news--peace is also promised in our future. In the kingdom of God, peace rules and reigns. 

Peace is not just something that God provides; peace is who God is. There will be no conflict in Heaven. The beatitudes are the inauguration of God’s kingdom on the earth. Jesus is letting us know that if we want to be happy, experience bliss, and be blessed, then we need to understand how to be peacemakers. 

God is not the author of confusion but of peace. Moreover, Jesus is our Prince of Peace. If this is the case, then why don’t we have peace? There are two reasons:

1. The devil fights against God’s peace. The devil was kicked out of heaven because he created conflict. The devil desired to be God, and he rebelled against God. There is the kingdom of God, then there is the Kingdom of darkness.

2. People reject God’s peace. Most people would say that they would like more peace in our lives, but often we settle for a worldly peace that appeases us momentarily but ultimately disappoints us and is destructive over time. Having peace is a desire we all have, but making peace is a decision that we don’t all choose to make.

Peace is often defined as the absence of conflict, but in reality, it is the presence of Jesus. Jesus is the embodiment of God’s righteous standard. Peace is righteousness. We have peace with God because of Jesus Christ.

James 3 describes the difference between the world’s wisdom and heaven’s wisdom (James 3:13-18). There are all kinds of wisdom that this world will offer us when we are searching for peace. The only way for us to cause peace in any conflict is to sow righteousness into it (Hebrews 12:14-15). Having peace is a desire that we all have, but making peace is a decision that not all of us choose to make. Making peace is the decision to resolve conflict, not avoid conflict. 

All conflict is a result of sin. It may be our sin. It may be the sins of someone else. It may be the sins of a people or a nation. Nevertheless, all conflict is a result of sin. This is because conflict came into the world when sin entered the world. Moreover, we know that conflict will not be in our future in the Kingdom of Heaven. Devotion to God is a devotion to righteousness. Condemnation causes us to run from God. Conviction causes us to run to God. Righteousness shows up.  

When we engage in peacemaking, we are blessed because others will look at us and say that we look, sound, and possess attributes and characteristics that could only make us a direct descendant of the Father in heaven, the God of Peace. If we are going to truly bring heaven to earth, then we have to move from just praying it to living it by becoming peacemakers-- advocating for people to live at peace with God and with others. We are living in a time when conflict is everywhere, but we have the good news of Jesus Christ, and the Bible says that the whole earth is groaning for the sons of God to be revealed. The church is the only institution that has been entrusted with the news of the kingdom of heaven. We can become citizens of God’s kingdom and become actively engaged in making peace with others and with God on the earth. Peace is the presence of Jesus.  

Reflection/Discussion Questions: 
1. What areas of your life do you need to invite God’s peace into? 

2. How do you tend to approach conflict-- moving toward it, avoiding it, or seeking to resolve it? 

3. How does the understanding of peace as the presence of Jesus change the way that you approach conflict? 

4. How can you be a peacemaker in your family, your work, and your relationships this week?