It is a sad reality that in our time, the word “peacemaker” is slang for a big gun. Some even speculate that having nuclear weapons ready for use at the push of a button is what has enabled mankind to avoid a 3rd world war. The irony of the acronym used for that philosophy (mutually assured destruction, or MAD) is not lost on the disciple of Christ. Weapons can never ensure peace, they can only cause temporary obedience on the part of the one threatened by them. The creation, storage and handling of a weapon can therefore never be constructed as peacemaking in anything but sarcastic terms. But what then is peacemaking? Because in Matthew 5:9, Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”
In just a few verses of Psalm 34, the Psalmist encapsulates what it means to be a child (son) of God, “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
Anyone who wants to know the fear of the Lord must firstly turn from evil and instead do good. One must also hold one’s tongue from evil and one’s lips from spreading mistruth, and then seek peace and pursue peace wherever possible. That the Lord (through the Psalmist) addressed this admonition to his children might give cause to consider such action a minimum of behavior for anyone who claims to want to know God at all. Especially because a personal mission to seek peace and pursue it must start with ensuring personal peace between God and oneself. Without that, peace with others is only as practical as having allies when you are on the loosing side of a war. But if one has peace with God, it is possible to have peace and at the same time give that peace to others. Indeed, Jesus does exactly that much later on (John 14:27).
Of course, Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker. As Ephesians notes, “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.”
A peacemaker then, is someone who spreads this message, thereby bringing peace to those who have no peace. For pursuing true peace is the motive and desire of every peacemaker, and it is the impartation of peace from someone who has peace that brings peace. That is to say, you cannot give to someone that which you do not have to give. Those who have peace with God can and must impart that peace to those who are yet without.
Those of us with peace have significant motivation to give that peace to others. Both because the need is urgent, and because the reward is great. For surely all can see the the need is urgent; Just as two countries at war need resolution lest more die, and a couple at each other’s throats need resolution lest they tear the family apart, and a person without God’s peace is in danger of hell. Moreover, the reward is very great. For to impart God’s peace to others is to be known as a son of God: It is to earn the reputation of a good name, and to know confidence in your own relationship with God as His child.
Amen.
When Our Lord speaks peace, He makes peace, His words are ever “spirit and life.” Have I ever received what Jesus speaks? “My peace I give unto you”—it is a peace which comes from looking into His face and realizing His undisturbedness.
Oswald Chambers
APPLICATION: Intentionality
What are you bringing to those around you?