Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

Not only is the world filled with peace breakers but there are also many who are:

• Peace-fakers

Are you pursuing peace or just posing as a peace maker and pretending to follow God’s plan? Note that Jesus is not calling us to be peace-keepers, but peace-makers. But some of us are predisposed to having peace at any cost, and in an effort to avoid conflict we will cave or even appear to cooperate. Yet it’s just a pretend peace, in reality we are just putting on a mask and playing the part of a peacemaker while masking our real motives. The tensions may appear to dissipate but in reality they have just gone underground and it isn’t long before they return because they were never really resolved. It’s easy to fall into faking but if we don’t pursue authentic peace and resolve our disputes then the peace we are try to maintain by masking and avoiding the issues will get harder and harder to keep. Because you can’t keep what you don’t have, eventually everything will unravel including the relationship. Our relationships will die even though everything on the surface looks peaceful. Like an iceberg, it’s not what’s on the surface that sinks the ship but what is submerged. Ephesians 4:25 challenges us to stop being peace-fakers: “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Are you being forthright in your relationships or a fraud? Are you a peace maker or a peace faker? God calls us to be a:

• Peace-maker

It may be easier to either break the peace or fake peace in the midst of conflict but we have been called to make peace. When Jesus pronounced a blessing upon peacemakers, the word He used for “maker” literally means “to do” or “to create.” Peace is something we pursue; it must be actively made because it never happens by chance. Left to ourselves, we drift dangerously toward divisiveness. Peacemaking is not always pleasant or easy, it can be messy work that is often resented instead of rewarded. A peacemaker does what it takes to establish and maintain peace. Instead of escalating conflict they work to extinguish tension and usher in true peace. Are you going after and guarding peace? Warren Wiersbe said, “Hatred looks for a victim, while love seeks a victory. The man of war throws stones, but the peacemaker builds a bridge out of those stones.” Throughout the bible we find many powerful peace principles that point to both the importance of harmony as well as the hard work involved in promoting peace. Here are a few peace principles for you to ponder:

Peace must be pursued, Psalm 34:14 says: “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Romans 14:19: “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Ephesians 4:3: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” 1 Thessalonians 5:13: “…Live in peace with one another.”

Loving peace can be lonely. Psalm 120:6-7: “Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war.”

We must pray for peace Psalm 122:6-8: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.’ For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’”

Those who take the journey to peace find joy. Proverbs 12:20: “There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace.”

Real beauty is found in the faithful feet of those who not only pursue peace but proclaim it: Isaiah 52:7: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace…”

We have to take personal responsibility not just to do our part but to do everything possible to bring about peace: Romans 12:18: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Peace is not a suggestion for us to consider but a command to be carried out: 1 Corinthians 7:15: “God has called us to live in peace.” 2 Corinthians 13:11: “…be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.” Colossians 3:15: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace…”

Righteousness is the rewarded of peacemakers. James 3:18: “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”

The Master is our model for peace. Ephesians 2:14-17: “For He himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace…He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.”

Peace is very elusive in our relationships, in our culture, and in the world today, but pursuing peace has always been a challenge. In 1781, Benjamin Franklin wrote these words to John Adams, “‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ is, I suppose, for another world. In this world they are frequently cursed.” While it can be extremely challenging to be a peacemaker, there are at least two rewards that scripture reveals. First, we are blessed, God approves and applauds those who respond and choose to chase peace in the midst of the problems. Second, this beatitude ends with an intriguing phrase, “…for they will be called sons of God.” The word “called” means to be officially designated as holding a particular rank or office, like when a chairman is named, or a captain is chosen. Jesus is telling us that peacemakers will be known and recognized for who they really are, children of God. A peacemaker has the bestowed title of being a child of the Prince of Peace. The phrase, “sons of God,” refers to a family relationship in which the son takes his father’s name and becomes heir to all of his father’s fortune. Not only do they have the right to His fortune but they resemble their Father and so reflect His character, they are His co-workers in peace. So who do you resemble, is it the Prince? What are you representing is it His plan? What are you reflecting is it His peace?