PEACEMAKERS

Matt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Heart peace is the most important peace. Peace in our world begins with peace in each of our hearts. Jesus is called the Prince of peace.  We can’t bring peace if we don’t have peace.

Rom 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Here are four areas where, we are called to peace:

1. The Wars Within

Strife between people boils from the strife in themselves. 

James 4:1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

Wars on the outside come from wars on the inside. Until we are at peace with ourselves we will always be in strife with others. War is never justified by the fact that someone else started it. We bring soft answers to anger.

Prov 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger

Retaliation only makes weeping wounds worse. Jesus is the ultimate example of the “soft-answer” person. He is innocent of any wrong doing, in fact, only the opposite. He is guilty of only doing good. Yet in a betrayal of justice, He is condemned to die like the worst of criminals. Hated for no reason, crucified without mercy. His retort? – ‘I forgive you’. He is not out for revenge. He is not claiming injustice. He is seeking His rights. He is not crying, ‘victim’. He is at peace, bringing peace even when war rages against Him.

2. Anxiety

Worry steals peace.

Connect with God in prayer, especially the kind of prayer that casts the burdens of our soul upon Him. 

Phil 4:6-7 (MSG) Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. Its wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

3. Guilty Mind

Guilt steals peace.

A guilty conscience destroys peace in our mind. Unresolved sin within us eats away at our soul. Guilt completely eats away our peace and confidence. There has to come a day when we decide to repent from sin, receive forgiveness, forgive others, let go of grudges and believe God.  

We cannot be peacemakers if we are not peaceful ourselves. If we are angry, anxious or trying to live with a guilty conscience we will be unsuccessful in bringing peace into anyone’s life.

4. Distraction

Distraction reduces calm.

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. 

When Jesus sent out the disciples, He told them what not to do as much as what to do. The issue is not so much focusing on the right things but rather not becoming distracted by the wrong things. There are a thousand and one things we can give ourselves to, but there is only going to be one thing above all others we must devote our highest attention to. We cannot do everything. We are not called to do everything. We should not attempt to do everything.

Mark 10:40-41: 

But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve along? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.”

Martha became overwhelmed with anxious preparation and missed welcoming Jesus completely. She wants Jesus to rebuke her sister Mary for not helping. However, instead of rebuking Mary, he commends her, saying she's doing great. Instead, Martha is corrected, but not condemned. Jesus goes to the root of her troubled attitude. Anxiety.  He basically says “You don’t have to do anything to impress me, or gain approval. I already am impressed. I already am proud of you. I already have accepted and approved you. Rest in that. Work from rest, not worry.”

See you in church!