Author: Gary Witcher

Beatitudes (Part Five)

	"Blessed are the peacemakers," Jesus promises in Matthew 5:9,  "for they shall be called sons of God."
	"Peace" is one of the most common concepts in the New Testament.  In fact, the word occurs in every New Testament book with the exception of 1 John.
	"Shalom" doesn't mean a lack of problems.  Actually, it is something that can exist in the midst of the greatest problems.   It means, "everything that makes for the   highest   good."    It   also   means "completeness."
	It should be noted that Jesus doesn’t pronounce a blessing on those who have peace, but rather on those who MAKE peace.   It doesn’t involve ignoring or hiding from problems.  It has to do with facing up to them and dealing with them.
	"So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another," Paul encourages in Romans 14:19.
	"And let him turn away from evil and do good;" 1 Peter 3:11 urges, "let him seek peace and pursue it."
	Just what is a peacemaker?  First of all, it is one who makes the world a better place.
	"In every thing I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus,” Paul tells the elders from Ephesus in Acts 20:35, "that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"  Peacemakers realize this, and thus make the world a better place.
	"Let love be without hypocrisy," Paul admonishes in Romans 12:9-21. "Abhor what is evil; cleave to what is good.
	"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of   the   saints, practicing hospitality.
	"Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not.   Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
	"Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly.  Do not be wise in your own estimation.
	"Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.  Respect what is right in the sight of all men.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
	"Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'
	"But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.   Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
	"Owe nothing to anyone," Paul adds in verse 8 of the following chapter, "except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law."
	Isn't this a wonderful description of a peacemaker?  Doesn't it make sense that love and being a peacemaker are so closely related?
	"This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father," James 1:27 says, "to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
	"But the wisdom from above is first pure," we read in verses 17-18 of chapter three, "then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.   And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
	Peacemakers truly make the world a better place to live.   But there is much more.
	"To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death," Luke 1:79 says of Jesus, "to guide our feet into the way of peace."
	"Glory to God in the highest," the angels sing in Luke 2:14,  "and peace among men with whom He is pleased."
	"The word which He sent to the sons of Israel,” Peter explains to Cornelius and his friends in Acts 10:36, "preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)."
	"And He came and preached peace to you who were far away,” Ephesians 2:17 states, "and peace to those who were near."
	What, then, is greater that making the world a better place by being peacemakers among humanity?  It is to be one who makes peace between God and man, by teaching the Gospel.  Peace between men is limited; peace between God and man is eternal.
There is still one more area in which we can be peacemakers.
"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts," Paul instructs in Colossians 3:15, "to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful."
	"Be anxious for nothing," Paul writes in Philippians 4:6-9,  "but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God.   And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
	"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.
	"The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you."
	Not only can we make the world a better place by being peacemakers among mankind.  Not only can we be peacemakers between God and man.   But we can also be peacemakers within ourselves by turning our hearts and souls over to the God of peace.

	How can we become peacemakers?   
	"Therefore having been justified by faith," Romans 5:1 informs us, "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
	We can have peace within ourselves only when we have grasped the concept of being justified by faith and not our own merits.   Our faith centers on the cross and the realization of God's great gift through His Son.  He who is truly won by the cross loves, and, as a result, has peace with God, himself and others.
	Shalom is translated "salvation" in some verses of the Septuagint, the oldest Greek translation of the Old Testament.  And this is exactly the concept we find in the New Testament.
	"And He said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace,'" we read in Luke 7:50.
	"And He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace,'" we find in Luke 8:48.
	Isaiah 59:1-2 informs us that our sins have made a separation between God and us.  And the salvation that is found only in obedience to Christ is the sole thing that can free us from those sins.
	Only when we are saved can we have peace between God and us and then within ourselves.  Then we can help create peace between God and others.  And only then will the world really be a better place.
	"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Actually, the sons of God are the only real peacemakers.
	Ephesians 2:11-18 discusses the fact that only in Christ can we find peace with God.
	"Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel," verses 12-16 remind us,  "and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
	"For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments, contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity."
	"Finally, brethren," Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:11,  "rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."
	In Colossians 1:2 Paul talks about the peace that comes from God. Two verses later he connects faith and love.  Why do we have faith and love?
	"Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven,” Paul answers in verses 5-6, "of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel, which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth."
	How do we become peacemakers?  We do it by being freed from our sins. And how does Paul explain here that we obtain that freedom?   Know the truth, and it will make you free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."