Have You Ever Asked for Peace in Your Life?

Have you ever thought God wants you to be a peacemaker? What does a peacemaker mean? It is a person who is actively seeking to reconcile people to God and to one another. 

This week’s verse is Matthew 5:9 NIV. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Did you know that since the end of World War II, there have been more than 250 major wars worldwide? Obviously, peace is a rare commodity, and peacemakers have not been successful. Over one million marriages end in divorce yearly in the United States. Often, families have members who refuse to speak to one another. Despite man's best efforts, the world's longing for peace remains unfulfilled. Each new generation is optimistic for reconciliation among people and nations but, in the end, faces disappointment. Is it even possible to live peaceably with others?

Okay, I am not ready to give up. Let us read this again from the New Living Translation, “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.”  

What is interesting about the word peacemakers is that this is the only time in all of the New Testament that the Greek term translated "peacemakers" appears. This will help us understand the meaning by pointing out first what it does not mean.

• It does not mean, "Blessed are those who avoid all conflict and confrontations."
• Neither does it mean, "Blessed are those who are laidback, easygoing, and relaxed."
• Nor does it mean, "Blessed are those who defend a 'peace at any price' philosophy."
• It does not mean, "Blessed are the passive, those who compromise their convictions when surrounded by those who would disagree."

No, none of those ideas is a characteristic of the "peacemaker" in this verse. We need to realize that every Christian, according to this beatitude, is meant to be a peacemaker both in the community and in the church. The overall driving force of the Bible is "Make peace!" Please take a moment today and read Romans 12:18, 14:19, and James 3:16- James 4:2. You pick the translation. 

I want to give you one example of what could happen when a person becomes a peacemaker. The results are unbelievable! The story takes place in 1 Samuel 25.
David is living in the wilderness, keeping his distance from King Saul, and protecting the people. He sends his men to ask for provisions from a man named Nabal. Nabal is a rich man, and his name means “fool.” That is a volatile combination! He is described as “harsh and evil in his doings.” Even his own servants call him a “scoundrel.”

Nabal quickly lives up to his name. He not only refuses the request but insults David, comparing him to a runaway servant. David’s response is to go crazy. He and his men grab their swords and ride out to kill Nabal. So, the hard-headed Nabal is about to be destroyed by the hot-headed David.

Here is where the peacemaker steps into the picture. The wife of the dupe Nabal is a woman named Abigail; she is referred to as “a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance.” It seems like opposites do attract! She is the “rose between two thorns,” and she keeps the two men from coming to bloodshed. She stops and produces a plan to stop the bloodshed. She quickly gathers supplies for David and rushes out to meet him.

With peaceful words, she takes responsibility for the insult against David, and she cools his hot anger.

Mark Twain once said, “The difference between the right word and the almost-right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” 

Abigail has the right words and the right demeanor, and that makes all the difference. David, faced with the sweetness and humility of Abigail, repents of his anger.

What can we learn from Abigail, who was a peacemaker?

• Peacemakers seek solutions to problems rather than arguments. 
• Peacemakers seek to calm the waters rather than stirring them up. 
• Peacemakers work hard for reconciliation rather than retaliation.
• By seeking to make peace, Abigail not only keeps her husband from being killed, but she also keeps David from doing something he would regret. 
• Peacemakers are courageous, but they are also humble. 

You and I need to remember Proverbs 15:1 in the Living Bible. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause quarrels.”  

At times, we are quick-tempered and impatient and find it hard to live in harmony with others. We may have trouble letting go of attitudes or habits that hurt those around us, and occasionally we do not even want to. God knows our true character and has provided the Holy Spirit to transform us into Jesus' likeness. The Spirit opens our minds to understand and apply Scripture. He gives us the power to say no to ungodliness and to replace me-centered thinking with a Christ-centered viewpoint. He patiently produces His fruit in us, which includes love, joy, and peace (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV). With His help, we can become peacemakers who work to bring about reconciliation between God and others. 

While our world keeps hoping for peace through man's solutions, we know the only source of lasting unity is Jesus Christ.

Make Every Day Count!

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