“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” -Matthew 5:9
Throughout history, human civilization has been in numerous wars. From the Trojan War (1300 BC), The Punic Wars (200 BC), The Crusades (1095-1291), World War I (1914-18), World War II (1939-45), Vietnam War (1954-1975), to the Iraq War (2003-11), and current Syrian Civil War (2012) today.
Unfortunately, humanity has been fighting since the beginning of history. These wars are a result of human sin, pride, and covetousness. Leaders of countries want to become more powerful so they steal land from other sovereign nations. Moreover, citizens are angry with the government so they protest and hurt others. This perpetual chaos is a reason why there is so much division in the world today.
The source of it all is still the same: sin. Sin is being disobedient to God’s holy law. What is God’s greatest commandment? To love God and love neighbor. That sums up the entirety of the Law. Therefore, when you are not being kind and loving to others, you are sinning.
The Bible tells us that we are to love our enemies and to do good to those who even try to harm us. This is the type of radical forgiveness expected of Christians. Therefore, no matter what political position you have, or whatever religious belief you espouse to, believers in Jesus are to treat everyone the same.
Every human being is created in the image of God. Consequently, they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. In fact, believers should regard others more important than even themselves. We are to serve our community and love others unconditionally.
God calls us to be peacemakers. For those who do their best to establish peace, whether in society, in their homes, or in the heart, they will be called sons of God. Whenever Jesus would enter or leave a city, He would always say, “Peace be with you.” This makes sense because Almighty God is called the Prince of Peace!
According to the dictionary, peace is defined as “freedom from disturbance or tranquility.” It can also mean a state or period of time in which there is no war. But I don’t think this definition is adequate enough.
Peace is more than just freedom from disturbance. It is not just the negation of something bad like war or violence. It also implies the importance of treating others with grace and kindness. Peace is an action that expresses positive attributes like gentleness and respect for every human being.
If you call yourself a Christian, you are to be at peace with everyone. If you are a follower of Jesus, no matter how much someone disagrees with you, treat them with kindness. This is because you are to be a peacemaker. There should be no anger or bitterness in your heart. This can be difficult to do, but when you pray and ask God to give you the strength, it’s possible. For God says that all things are possible through Him.
So will you be a peacemaker? Will you treat your fellow human with respect? Please do. It’s the right thing. We need more peacemakers in this world. Let’s pray and ask God to help us do this today.
Dear heavenly Father, help us to be peacemakers. There is so much violence and hatred in our world today. Give us the courage and strength to set a positive trajectory now and for future generations. You are the Prince of Peace. Reign in our hearts today. In Jesus name. Amen.
Conform to Jesus 