Page 3 - September 2025 - Truth & Tidings

eacekeepers are rare, but peacemak- Others will recognize the Father’s peace-
ers are rarer still and receive the making character within us and know we
PLord’s blessing. “Blessed are the are His children.
peacemakers, for they shall be called sons We should not miss the connection with
of God” (Mat 5:9). In Scripture, we find our Lord’s previous beatitude: “Blessed are
1
man blessing God and God blessing man, the pure in heart, for they shall see God”
which helps us to determine its meaning. (Mat 5:8). Before we can be peacemakers,
“Blessing” essentially means to approve.
And there can be no higher blessing than we must be pure. Before others will see
to be approved by God. 2 God in us, we must first see God ourselves
Since peace is part of the fruit of the and be changed by His righteous character
Spirit (Gal 5:22), every Spirit-filled person and standards. “And the effect of righ-
(i.e., every Christian) is capable of be- teousness will be peace, and the result of
ing a peacemaker. Peacemaking is not a righteousness, quietness and trust forever”
spiritual gift possessed by a few within (Isa 32:17). “But the wisdom from above is
a local church, but a spiritual quality of first pure, then peaceable … a harvest of
every believer in Christ. And whether we righteousness is sown in peace by those
are a mediating party or the offending (or who make peace” (Jas 3:17-18).
offended) party, we can all be peacemakers Peacemaking is costly and painful work.
by following the principles of God’s Word It cost God the life of His own Son, who
when conflict arises. painfully endured the cross to make peace
It is true that we act as peacemakers to for us (Col 1:20). To achieve peace, I must
the world around us when we bring the endure the pain of apologizing to the per-
gospel to unbelievers. We come “preaching son I injured, or the pain of confronting
peace by Jesus Christ” (Act 10:36 KJV). But the person who injured me. If I serve as a
we desperately need peacemakers within
our local assemblies. “The ministry of rec- mediator, there is the cost of time (perhaps
onciliation” (2Co 5:18) has been entrusted many hours) which will be needed to bring
to us not only as a message to share but as about reconciliation. There might be pain as
a model to emulate. Why would people I listen to how believers have hurt each other.
believe our message telling them how they Peacemaking is always a painful process.
can have peace with God when we don’t I once saw a shirt that read “Blessed are
have peace among ourselves? But when we the pacemakers.” Inside the wearer of that
do, when we act as peacemakers, a great shirt was a device keeping the heart beating
reward is ours: being “called sons of God.” at just the right rhythm that life might be pre-
served and flourish. More blessed still “are
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the ESV the peacemakers” among us, who work that
unless otherwise noted.
2 D.A. Carson, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Grand the life of our assemblies might be preserved
Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1987), 16. and flourish for the glory of God.

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