Blessed are… the Peacemakers

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be sons of God.” Matthew 5:9

Peace is something that every soul longs for. Especially in the divided, broken, and hurting state of the world. Our souls long for a reordering of the way things are. Our souls long for a peace that is devoid of turmoil.

But that seems so far off.  

Because when we hear of peace, we think of the absence of conflict.  Our image of peace is a passive stance.  And we know that this will not suffice in our day.  Passivity, though it sounds nice, will not do the trick.  It will not redirect the trajectory of history.  

Yet Jesus says that the peacemakers are blessed. They will be welcomed into the family of God. Is God calling us into a state of passivity? Is God calling us into an avoidance of conflicts?

Jesus was not unfamiliar with political turmoil, oppression, and war. Israel was under the oppressive rule of Rome when he walked the earth. There were riots, starvation, sickness, and political uprisings. Jesus had firsthand experience with conflict.

And yet his purpose on earth was not to bring political peace or an era where the nation of Israel would be free from tyranny.  And His purpose was not to passively allow the oppressors to take advantage or exploit him.  

The purpose of Jesus’ time on earth was “to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” Colossians 1:20.

Jesus’ purpose was not to establish a nation where there was no political conflict. He came in order to make peace between us and God.

Kaela Kaiser, Across My Heart Ministries

Jesus’ purpose was not to establish a nation where there was no political conflict. He came in order to make peace between us and God. Jesus was our peacemaker. His purpose was to redeem and restore.

You don’t keep the peace by keeping quiet

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is calling his followers to do the very same thing. He is calling his children to follow in His footsteps and to be the ones who lead others to the knowledge of the peace Jesus allows us to have with God.

But what does that look like in a broken world?  What does that look like when our church is divided, our nation is divided, and our world is divided? 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” 1 Corinthians 5:17-19.  

We were reconciled–made right–with God through the work of Jesus on the cross.  Once we were hostile to God, sheer enemies of Him.  In spite of this, Jesus, through his death on the cross, actively pursued peace.  We were reconciled, and now we are entrusted with the responsibility of reconciliation.  

Being a peacemaker means actively pursuing restoration and reconciliation through the power of the gospel.

Kaela Kaiser, Across My Heart Ministries

Being a peacemaker does not mean turning a blind eye to injustice through passivity. It means actively pursuing restoration and reconciliation through the power of the gospel. In Matthew 21, we read that during the Passover Jesus entered the temple, which was supposed to be a place of worship and atonement. However, what he found was merchants abusing worshippers, taking advantage of them economically. Jesus was enraged by this injustice and upturned the tables and cleansed the place meant for worship.

Making peace by turning tables

While this may not seem like a move a peacemaker would make, Jesus saw the sin and did not sulk back into passivity.  The peace of the Kingdom is about reconciliation and right relationship with God.  Sin has no place in the Kingdom.  It inhibits right relationship with our God.  

As followers of Christ, as we see the brokenness of the world, we are called to be peacemakers.  But it requires bold action.  It requires turning the tables sometimes.  

Our nation is in need of peace right now.  And it won’t happen by muting our voices because we are afraid to stir something up.  We were given voices for a reason.  We are called to turn the tables and challenge the systems that contradict the message of the gospel.  But it must be done in humility.  It must be done for the purpose of restoration.  It must be gospel centered.  

Through Jesus we are at peace with God. And it is our calling to proclaim that same message to the chaotic world around us. The Gospel is radical. It will overturn tables. But it restores. It heals. And it brings about a peace that surpasses all understanding because we are able to know and have a right relationship with our Father.

LAST WEEK TO ENTER

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. Like Across My Heart Ministries on Facebook and/or Instagram
2. Memorize Matthew 5:3-12 in any translation!
3. Send us a video of you reciting the passage by heart by November 20, 11:59 pm
4. You’ll be entered to win the prize drawing and the winner will be announced November 23!

MATTHEW 5:3-12 [THE BEATITUDES]

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.