ICS Daily Devotions
Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9 (NKJV) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

We are made in the image of God therefore we are able to act as peacemakers and initiate peacemaking. The new creation in our spirit being has the nature of God. We are to put on the new man by constantly reminding ourselves that we are a new creation. The old man before salvation was full of himself, did not bow down to God and allowed his emotions to always get the better of him. This old man is dead and crucified on the cross together with Jesus. We have identified with Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection when we profess that He is our Lord and Savior. The baptism is only a public declaration of what has already happened in our hearts. We have risen to a new life in Christ and we choose to live for Him.

We are able to yield to the Holy Spirit who empowers the new creation. The born-again person is able to choose not to succumb to the flesh by not participating in a tit for tat treatment towards one another! We have the whole fruit of the Holy Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control residing in us. Therefore, we are expected to be peacemakers because we are the children of God. It is really a blessing to be a peacemaker because we are the restorers of peace just as God took the initiative to restore peace with us. Since we are the children of God then we will naturally take on the nature of our Heavenly Father who is a peacemaker.

Karl A. Pillemer, a family sociologist and professor at Cornell University and Weill Cornell Medical College, discovered that family rifts were surprisingly pervasive and often result long-lasting emotional and physical distress. (When a Family Is Fractured, Jane E. Brody @ The New York Times)

No one would like their family members to have long-lasting emotional and physical distress. Christian families, especially those who are well-established in the Word and are walking out the truth, should and can be different. We should also note that while we work towards being peacemakers, it does not mean that the opposing party will be willing to have a reconciliation. We should accept the fact that reconciliation might not be possible if the other party refuses to participate in the restoration of a relationship but at least we have tried to create peace.

Similarly, not everyone has responded to the reconciliation extended to us by God. While we cannot decide for the opposing party, we should work on it and it will also be a good closure for us in regards to the rift in a relationship.

We need to be mindful that it is counterintuitive for our flesh to want to be a peacemaker because the flesh wants to live independently of God. It is natural for our flesh to want to take revenge, prove that we are right, have the last say in a conversation and to continue to torture those who have offended us. Therefore, we need to crucify our flesh and die a thousand deaths by choosing to walk in the Spirit to work on taking the first step to initiate peacemaking between parties! We need to pursue love and peace and not cause division and strife! That is what is expected of us as peacemakers.

Sermon Series: Peacemaker