Bulletin Articles
“Blessed are the Peacemakers”
As we continue our study on the Beatitudes, we read in Matt. 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
As we consider what it means to be a peacemaker, it certainly seems reasonable that Christians should be promoters of peace, after all we read in Eph 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” and we also see in 2 Tim 2:23 that we should “Avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.” In the battle for souls the Christian recognizes there is no room for petty disputes which may result in distractions, divisions or worse.
While this certainly fits, I think there is an even greater significance to our calling to be peacemakers. Let’s first acknowledge the greatest Peacemaker of all is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is only by His sacrifice that we are able to obtain peace with God. It was Jesus alone who was able to satisfy God’s demand for justice (1 John 4:10) so that we may be reconciled to Him. (Rom 5:11)
So how does this relate to our role as peacemakers? As Christians we are instructed to share the good news with others (Matt 28:19-20) and in doing so we are promoting peace with our Lord and Father above! What a comforting thought it is for these Christian peacemakers to be recognized as the “children of God.”
