Peacemaker

Last Sunday my Pastor spoke on verse 9 of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.  God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

This verse convicts me.  Am I a peacemaker when I gossip, complain or criticize?  No.  There's a difference between offering suggestions that might improve a situation and criticizing other's ways of doing things.  There's a difference between pouring one's heart out in hurt to a wise, listening friend and complaining.  And there is no excuse for gossip.  Period.  

Maybe keeping 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 in mind will help us be the peacemakers that God wants.  It states:  4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Our Pastor said, "A quarrelsome person can't be a peacemaker."  And he's right.  Being contentious will never point the people around us to the Prince of Peace.  And isn't that what we ultimately want?  To show people that they can be at peace with the God who created them?  I think of the times at work when I was so upset something wasn't done right, or something was left undone....peacemaker would not be the term I used to describe my behavior.  

Jesus didn't shy from conflict.  He stood up for righteousness and justice.  But He loved.  He offered help instead of condemnation.  I'm not seeing Jesus stealing off for prayer in the mornings as was His custom and in that time complaining to His Father about all the people who were not living right, or whining about those who were trying to kill Him.  He didn't sit around after everyone left complaining about all the work He had to do and all the people that got themselves into trouble by sinning.  No.  He stayed at peace and loved those good old faulty humans.  

A peacemaker doesn't let the little things of life come between them and those around them.  Romans 12:18  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  But there are times when we have to be honest with people.  We cannot compromise our Christian character to live in peace with the world.  We must "obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).   We cannot see someone racing towards destruction without trying to pull them back.  Peace doesn't always mean to cessation of conflict.  We sometimes have to confront, as Jesus did.  Living out our peace with God may actually bring persecution.  Pointing people to a relationship with Jesus may actually cause them to hate and ridicule us.  

There is so much to the peacemaker thing!  And it really brought conviction to my heart about my "un-peaceable behavior.  Another area to grow!  Another area to allow the Holy Spirit to chisel and shape my heart into a beautiful residence for Him.  

Lord, teach us the balance of being a peacemaker in Your image.  Teach us to love others while still setting a Christ-like example wherever we go.  Let us point to way to You, the Prince of Peace.  Give us boldness and kindness, courage and humility.  Create in us the character of Christ.  It's in His precious Name I pray.  Amen.  

Examine yourself against verse 9 of the Beatitudes today.  Where are you on the peacemaker scale?