Peacemakers

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

We are called to be peacemakers. In this passage of Scripture from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus  went on to say,

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus is saying not to just be friendly to those who are friendly to you. Be different. Show you really are a son of God by loving your enemies. Yet, He later on He seems to contradict this:

34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.
37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 10:34-39

Luke's account of this verse says this:

51 Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; 52 for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
54 And He was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out.55 And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time? Luke 12:51-57

There's a time to be a peacemaker, but there is also a time for a sword. In all things we put Jesus first. When we do, there are times it will cause division. We need to know the times--when we are to be a peacemaker and when it is a time of division. There is never a time to compromise Jesus or the Gospel for the sake of peace. Even if it costs us something--our own life, our comfort, our relationships. Yet we need to discern the times. The peacemakers are blessed. Loving and praying for your enemy shows you are a son of God.

There's times following the Lord will cost us something, we won't be able to bring peace, but there are times we will be able to. We should try for peace first. 

What is a peacemaker? One who restores two people to a relationship so they are not at war anymore. They are at peace with each other. A peacemaker is one who helps people in conflict work out their differences. A peacemaker will bring healing to relationships. Today, I felt specifically the Lord was addressing relationships in the workplace, church, and home. The relationships in your workplace, those you are connected with spiritually, and those in your home.

We need peacemakers in our life, and we need to be peacemakers for others. Not so we can compromise, but so we can bring true restoration and peace. When both sides receive healing, and are in proper relationship with the Lord, when we both have the same Head, they will have the same goals, motivations, and so on. The best peace possible is when both parties are submitted to the Lord. 

To be peacemakers, we would like to see everyone align with the Truth. Christians should not compromise if it means compromising the Lord or His Truth. There will be times of division. There may be people you need to separate from for the sake of peace. Lot and Abraham's herdsmen were arguing and separated for the sake of peace (Genesis 13). Yet sometimes separation may not be the best option, or should not happen without doing everything possible to restore the relationship, such as in marriages. 

Ecclesiastes 3 says there is a time to kill and a time to heal. A time of war and a time of peace. A time to love and a time to hate. God will always try and bring restoration first. First and foremost peace between God and man--that will bring the ultimate healing to a person.

Father, raise up the peacemakers in Waterford and beyond. That they bring healing and restoration, first and foremost with You, but also in the relationships they are in. That not only in the lives of others, but in our lives as well. In our own heart and mind we submit to You and Your Truth.We will not compromise. We make peace with You and Your ways. We accept Your ways--the ways of Your Word and Spirit. We accept Your Truth in our life. We accept You, honor You, Your will, Your Word, and Your ways, and we want to bring that to the people we come in contact with. We want to bring it to our families, those we are in spiritual relationships with--our tribe, our church, we want to bring it to our workplace, ministry, job, where we are using our gifts, we want to bring peace. To be a peacemaker. We want to see the rising up of the peacemakers in the community. Those committed to You and Your ways. Those who are secure and confident in their relationship with You and the love You have for them, that they are able to take up their cross and follow You. That they can love and pray for their enemies without compromising You. That they can discern the times and seasons to know when its time to heal or divide. 

There are times for compromise, but not His will, His ways, or His truth. We die to ourselves so His resurrected life can live through us.

Father, I pray for discernment so we know the times, when its time to join, and when its time to separate, that we're aware of Your love shed abroad in our hearts, and we walk in the love and healing and a restored relationship with You, so we are able to bring and release that to the people we come in contact with. Bring up this restoration of healing in Your people so we can be the peacemakers You've called us to be. Let us remember those times we come before You to honor and worship You and then remember our brother has something against us, that we go and attempt reconciliation with him. That we are quick to make friends with our opponents at law. That we know how to bring solutions to the problems and divisions that arise. That we are not so rigid that we don't compromise when we need to. Yet we are also brave enough and courageous enough to stand in opposition when we need to.