◄ What Does Matthew 5:9 Mean? ►

Peacemakers are not the people who simply want peace or long for peace. They are not the governments that pass laws on peace, or legislators who write policies on peacekeeping. Peacemakers are those whom the Lord God uses to bring reconciliation to a fallen world. As Christians, we have peace with God through faith, and have been made ministers of reconciliation, so that fallen sinners may be reconciled back to God and gain true peace in their heart.

God in His grace has reconciled those who believe in the Lord Jesus to Himself, and through Christ, we have been given this important ministry of reconciliation, so that the world may know that God is the Lord and Saviour of mankind. Christ came to earth to reveal God's goodness and grace, and His death on the cross opened the way for fallen man to find peace with God - to be reconciled back to Him through faith in His Son.

During Christ's absence from the earth, those who believe on His name have been entrusted with a life-work that proclaims the gospel of grace to a lost world, so that men, who are dead in their sin and estranged from God, may know the truth, be saved by grace through faith in Christ and find peace with God. Jesus came, so that the world might be reconciled back to their Father - and we are called to be His peacemakers.

Man seeks after empty happiness and longs for peace in a world at war, but the child of God who has been saved by grace through the sacrificial work of Christ on Calvary's cross, gains more than happiness. He is blessed to be reconciled to God and to have peace with Him through the forgiveness of sin. But there is so much more, for we who have peace with God, in a world at war, and we have the peace of God within. We have been promised when we rest in Him and walk in spirit and truth, His peace will guard our heart and guide our path.

Our initial salvation brings peace WITH God but during our walk of faith through the journey of life, we can enjoy the peace OF God - God's continuous, divine peace in our hearts, "Let not your heart be troubled," Jesus told his confused disciples just before He was to walk to the cross, "Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me."

We who believe, can receive that peace that passes understanding as we remain in right relationship with the Father, through faith in the Son. But we are also given the authority to go into all the world as God's peacemakers. We are to be witnesses to the truth of the gospel and preach the truth to every creature - that peace with God IS possible by His grace, through faith in Christ.

There is a blessing that is pronounced on peace-makers. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Godly peace-makers are indeed blessed folk who seek to live peaceably with all men, through prayer, and to actively intervene to make peace, when strife and animosity raises its ugly head. As God directs, they follow after peace without any spiritual compromise, while binding up the broken peace of others, which is caused by depression, disease, divorce, and distress.

Peace-making is not the attitude that cries 'peace at any cost, so let's not rock the boat', nor are peacemakers those who march around carrying banners or sit around selfishly seeking their own well-being with little interest in the distress, discomfort or discordant lives of others. True peace is not found in a ten-step meditation programme, a walk in nature, thinking about nice things or relaxing on a beach, although these activities may provide certain benefits. Nor is it discovered in a psychiatrist's chair, the massage parlour or a cup of green tea with friends.

Blessings of peace come from the Father of peace, and the blessedness of peace-making rests on the Prince of Peace, Who has become both Founder and Finisher of all our peace, and imparts His eternal peace by His Spirit of Peace, which flows out of us to others as we rest in Christ and permit His peace to flood our heart. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." is Christ's promise to us.

May we who have made peace with God by believing on His Son as Saviour, continue our Christian journey by walking in spirit and truth, maintaining that blessed fellowship and peaceable communion with God our Father. And may we become ambassadors of God's peace in a world at war, through our ministry of reconciliation - through Him Who is our one and only mediator between God and man - Jesus Christ our Lord.

I thank You, Heavenly Father, that I have peace with You through the death of Jesus, my Saviour. I pray I may be a peace-maker in the place that You have put me, by maintaining sweet fellowship with You and by sharing the gospel of grace with all I may meet. May I be used as Your instrument of godly reconciliation and peace-making in this distressed world. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.