One of the most
powerful marks of a believer is transcendent peace. This world offers us no
reason to be peaceful. It offers us no reason to be without stress, burdens,
cares, and total frustration. But we serve a God who offers us peace in the
midst of any circumstance. We serve a God in whom all true peace finds its
source. May you discover the heart of your heavenly Father to bring you peace
this week.
Scripture:
“Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9
Devotional:
One of the highest
callings of God on the lives of his children is to be peacemakers. This world
has no reason to have peace or give peace. While people are at war within
themselves, striving to satisfy longings that can only be satisfied in God, we
cannot expect them to bring peace around them. It’s for this reason that you
and I are called to make peace at all costs. Matthew says, “Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
To be a child of
God is to make peace with everyone around you, regardless of how they treat
you. Jesus sought peace at every turn. Even his turning of the tables was a cry
for peace between man and his Father in heaven. The passionate condemnation of
sin in Scripture exists to rid that which separates us from the peace of God.
The fight for heavenly peace in the lives of men is a cause worth sacrifice,
unfair treatment, and even persecution. For example, Scripture teaches us in 1
Peter 3:9-11, Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on
the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a
blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his
tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil
and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.”
This world has no
defense for unmerited blessing. It has no defense for the people of God loving
unconditionally. When we choose not to repay evil for evil or revile when we’ve
been reviled, we bring heaven to earth around us. No man or woman can live a truly
peaceful life apart from the help of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus
said in Matthew 5:38-42 ,
You have heard that
it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you
on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and
take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to
go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do
not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
The next time
someone does evil to you, remember that it was us who did evil to Jesus. The
next time someone “slaps you on the right cheek,” remember
that it was us who shouted, “Crucify him!” when Jesus had done
nothing wrong. It was our sin that put Jesus on the cross, and yet he willingly
sacrificed his life that we might know peace. It’s time for the people of God
to choose to love others as Christ has loved us. It’s time for us to lay down
our rights in this life that others might come to know the love we’ve been
shown. May you be filled with the courage to love unconditionally today as you
encounter God’s heart to fashion you into a peacemaker.