A peacemaker is someone who promotes peace and reconciliation, especially reconciling adversaries. It is easier to be a peacemaker when we are reconciling people who have a dispute against each other, but it is another thing if we are the ones who are wronged. Here is what Jesus said about being a peacemaker, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven..." (Matthew 5:43-45a).
It is somewhat impossible for us to do what God is asking us to do to love and bless our enemies, but God does not expect us to do them alone. He expects us to rely on His power to love and bless our enemies. When four teenagers with masked on carjacked my car two years ago with a gun, I was very angry, but I could do nothing. They didn't hurt me. They just took my car. When I was calling the police, the Spirit of God suddenly moved my heart to forgive them in my heart and pray that they would come to know the Lord. I also prayed that they would be arrested to face the consequences of what they were doing, and somehow, they would change. I started to understand what they were going through. They were lost and desperate youth, looking for peace and joy in life but in the wrong and distractive ways. The police found my car the next day, and my insurance ended up totaling it and got another vehicle.
As believers and children of God, God wants us to be peacemakers. We need to promote peace through the love of Christ. As we love and bless those who wrong us, we are living the life that God wants us to live—to be peacemakers. God also calls us to reconcile others to Himself by sharing the message of the gospel—Jesus Christ died for our sins, and we have to believe in Jesus for us to be forgiven of our sins and be saved. We cannot be peacemakers without relying on the power of God in our lives. We need to allow God to change our hearts and surrender our lives to Him, for Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God."
Ask yourself these questions: What does it mean to be a peacemaker? How can I be a peacemaker? Do I have an enemy that I need to love and bless?
Write down all the worries that you are facing today and lift them up to God.
Prayers:
Father in heaven, thank you for reconciling me to yourself when I was separated from you because of my sin. Thank you for your forgiveness. Please help me to be a peacemaker. I need you to change my heart to love and bless those who wrong me and share your gospel with others who do not know you. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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