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

 Matthew 5:9

DEVOTION

I am a self-proclaimed peacemaker. If I were old enough, I probably would have been a hippie and promoted ”love, not war.” If there is conflict, I am the person who will give someone the benefit of the doubt: “Well, maybe that person meant to say this…”, or “Maybe they meant this instead of that.” I am eager to jump up and diffuse tension if I see it–usually by using humor or at least attempting it.

As I have studied more on what Jesus meant and was asking us in The Sermon on the Mount, I realized I am a “conflict avoider” or “appeaser” as opposed to a true peacemaker. The biblical definition of a peacemaker is a person who reconciles adversaries, actively reconciling people to God and one another. He is calling me to be actively reconciling, not actively appeasing (with humor).

One of my favorite quotes by an unknown author says this: “Peace is not the absence of war, but the presence of Christ.” As I looked more into this quote, I found two others very similar.

Baruch Spinoza said, “Peace is not the absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition of benevolence, confidence, justice.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it like this, “True peace is not the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.”

These three different versions are truly describing the same peace when we look at the definitions.

Benevolence: quality of being well-meaning, kindness

Virtue: behavior showing high moral standards

Confidence: feeling that one can rely on someone or something

Justice: just behavior; morally right and fair

Peace: freedom from disturbance

This is Christ. God’s presence is true peace. He is the definition of all of the above. Benevolent, virtuous, confident, just, and peace. Worldly peace is temporary; God’s peace is eternal and has already been given freely to us.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Jesus is not asking us to be conflict avoiders and appeasers, but actively reconciling ourselves to him and one another.

PRAYER

Lord, we love you and thank you for being the true peace we need. We come to you already reconciled because of the gift of your Son, Jesus. Help us to actively show your love and understanding to others by not focusing on the war and conflict in the world but transcending our understanding to you and being the peacemakers you call blessed. We pray this in Jesus’ name, our Prince of Peace. Amen.

Michelle Brock

mbrock@crossings.church

Michelle Brock is the Administrative Assistant for Missions and Outreach.

RESOURCES

• Sermon On The Mount Series 
• "Blessed are the Peacemakers" sermon
• Holy Crossings Worship