𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟳: 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀
Today we are in the seventh Beatitude found in the Sermon on the Mount. If you missed the previous ones, we suggest you go back and read those to get a better understanding of today's.
"𝘉𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥" (𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘸 5:9, 𝘌𝘚𝘝).
𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲
Being a peacemaker goes beyond merely avoiding conflict; it involves actively seeking to bring reconciliation and harmony in relationships. Jesus highlights that true blessedness comes from striving for peace and unity, reflecting God's heart for reconciliation.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗲 𝗮 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿?
To be a peacemaker means to actively work towards reconciling relationships, resolving conflicts, and promoting peace. It involves seeking to create harmony in our interactions and fostering environments where love and understanding can flourish. Peacemaking is not about passivity but about taking deliberate steps to heal and restore.
𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴
One of the most profound examples of peacemaking is Jesus Himself. Through His sacrifice on the cross, He reconciled humanity with God, offering us peace with our Creator (Colossians 1:20). Another example is Abraham, who sought to resolve a dispute with his nephew Lot peacefully by offering him the choice of land (Genesis 13:8-9).
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗕𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱
Jesus promises that peacemakers will be called sons of God. This title signifies a deep relationship and likeness to God. As we work to bring peace, we reflect God's character and His mission of reconciliation in the world. Being called sons of God is a testament to our identity and inheritance as members of His family.
𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴
Living out this Beatitude involves seeking to resolve conflicts in our own lives and helping others to do the same. It means addressing issues with a spirit of gentleness and understanding, and striving to bring about reconciliation and unity. Practicing peacemaking also involves promoting justice and standing against division and strife.
𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
In James 3:18, we read, "And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." This highlights the fruitfulness that comes from a life dedicated to peacemaking. Additionally, in Romans 12:18, Paul urges, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."
𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Reflect on areas in your life where you can be a peacemaker. Are there relationships that need reconciliation? How can you promote peace and understanding in your community or workplace? What steps can you take to embody God's heart for reconciliation and unity?
𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿
We invite you to say the following prayer as we study today’s Beatitude:
𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴. 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥. 𝘐𝘯 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴' 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘯.
Stay tuned for tomorrow's message, which will explore the eighth Beatitude: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."