4 Blessed are the Peacemakers
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5: 9 – 10 [NIV]
These two final beatitudes deal with conflict: the role of the Christian in resolving conflict and the possibility of conflict because of belief.
As Christians we are to be peacemakers, we are to seek to brink conflict and animosity to an end. This should be true in our own lives, in our church life and in the wider world. Jesus is the Prince of Peace [Isaiah 9: 6]; in his death on the cross he brought peace between the Father, who is holy, and ordinary people who were alienated from him because of sin. Paul writes:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [Romans 5: 1, NIV]
And just as God has made peace with us, we are to make peace with each other.
However, Jesus recognises that peace in this world may not come to Christians. If we lead lives of righteousness, lives which are different from those around us, we may well attract unwelcome attention and hatred. This may be true for some in this country, but our experience pales into insignificance besides the experience of those who live in countries where to be a Christian is to challenge prevailing beliefs. Yet the promise of Jesus is not in the future, but in the present: Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Christians are like tea - their real strength is drawn only when they get into hot water. [Jonathan Lamb]
Heavenly Father, help me to bring peace to the different situations in which I find myself, even when I am under attack. Amen.
David Long
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