Peacemakers in a World at War

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” – Matthew 5:9

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offers an unparalleled teaching that one could, and should, spend a lifetime unpacking and applying. His message is full of power and profundity. At the same time, Jesus’ words are practical, given to all who believe in Him and willingly enter into the School of Christ. 

One of the many lessons the Church needs to hear, or be reminded of, today is Jesus’ instruction pertaining to peace.

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

Peacemakers are children of God. What an incredible statement of identity worthy of reflection. Ponder these words for a moment… Jesus is not telling His followers how to become children of God. He is simply telling them, and us, that children of God are peacemakers. 

This is who we are. Peace is in our DNA.

As children of God, we reflect the character of our Heavenly Father, whom the Apostle Paul calls “the God of peace.” In Galatians 2:20, Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” That means Christ—the Prince of Peace—lives within every child of God. And as children of God, we have been given the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of peace. We are peacemakers because we are children of God, Children of the One True God who exists in three persons… The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. We are children of the Trinity who is Holy, Holy, Holy and, based on the verses mentioned thus far, is also Peace, Peace, Peace.

At this point you might be thinking, “But what do peacemakers actually do? I know they make peace, but what does that look like in real life?” 

That’s a good question. Here are but a few thoughts.

Peacemakers proclaim the Gospel of Peace.

They share the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Peacemakers are ambassadors of God’s message of love and reconciliation. In Colossians 1:20, Paul tells us that Jesus “made peace through the blood of the cross.” Even though humanity had sinned against God, God gave His one and only Son to die for our sins so that we could have eternal peace with Him. God is counting on His peacemakers to deliver this Gospel—to tell others that real, lasting, true peace is the peace of God found in Jesus Christ alone. 

It is a peace not dependent on the external events and circumstances of this world. Peacemakers know that proclaiming the Gospel of Peace, through both words and actions, sometimes comes at a cost. In some cases, it may even cause conflict or result in persecution. Yet, they trust the power of the Holy Spirit and lift up the Prince of Peace regardlessly.

Peacemakers long for Peace, strive for peace, and sacrifice for peace.

Their goal is to build bridges—to people and between people. Peacemakers love harmony and reconciliation, so they work hard to maintain or mend broken relationships. The Apostle Paul writes, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). Living at peace with everyone is the goal of every peacemaker. It is a lofty goal and impossible to attain apart from the grace of God. But if there is going to be a rift in a relationship—if there is going to be conflict or division—it will not be because the peacemaker failed to put forth enough effort, nor because the peacemaker compromised God’s standards in the pursuit of peace.

Peacemakers stand for the truth and speak the truth with gentleness and respect.

Even though the goal is peace, peacemakers will not avoid doing or saying what is right in the eyes of God simply to appease people or create a superficial, temporary peace. Out of the conviction of their hearts, peacemakers pursue peace with the truth of the Gospel in one hand and the love of Christ in the other.

Peacemakers display a Christ-like composure in the face of conflict.

They don’t emotionally unravel in the storms of life. Instead, peacemakers are a soothing, calming presence in the midst of anxiety. They step into hostile situations to defend those who cannot defend themselves with Christ-like confidence. They walk into hopeless situations to help those facing seemingly incurable problems with steady and solid faith. Peacemakers trust in the power and authority of the Prince of Peace. 

You know these people. When all hell breaks loose, they remain cool and calm. Peacemakers think clearly in the midst of chaos and control their emotions because they know, in the words of C.S. Lewis, “anger is the anesthetic of the mind.” Peacemakers can walk into a heated family argument or a workplace conflict, keep their composure, and manage their tongue.

Peacemakers pray.

They kneel before the Prince of Peace and cover this world with prayer. Peacemakers pray for those affected by conflict, and at the same time they pray for their enemies and those who persecute them. 

They never cease to pray that people of all nations would come to know Christ and His peace because they understand that peace in the world must begin with peace in the heart.

This world is at war. It’s in turmoil. It is hurting and anxious, in desperate need of true peace—which means this world needs the Prince of Peace. And for whatever divine reason, God has chosen you and me to bring the peace of Christ to this world. 

We (the sons and daughters of God) are His peacemakers.

So, let’s be the peacemakers God has empowered us to be. Let’s strive to make peace in this world and in our nation, in our schools and workplaces, in the Church and in our homes, with our children and spouses, with our families and friends. And as we strive for peace—and even at times struggle for peace—let us never forget that we can be at peace about the future of this world.

The Lord God Almighty is Sovereign. 

One day the Prince of Peace will return. One day “every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 

One day God’s Kingdom will come and be established on earth as it is in heaven. On that day there will be no more tears and no more pain. On that day all anxiety, fear, and conflict will be banished forever. And on that day, all the children of God will step into paradise.

But until that day, we must work for peace. Let’s go into this highly hostile and overly anxious world and give it peace. 

Let’s give people heaven.