Bringing peace

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

BRINGING PEACE

Matt 5:9

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

NIV

To bring a resolution to conflict seems to be the main thrust of these words. It would make sense that if two parties are in conflict and someone comes along to arbitrate a peaceful solution, they would be call the peacemaker. It would seem also natural if one of the two individuals who were engaged in some form of disagreement which escalated to a full blown conflict, decided the relationship was more important than proving themselves right, yielded they position, would also be called the peacemaker. However the greatest way in which this word could be applied would be in the sense of bringing peace between a sinner and God. That is not to say we are free from sin, but the use of the word sinner in this case implies one who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and thus are in conflict with God. We could even say they are at war with God. We were once in that position as well.

Col 1:21-22

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.

NIV

To be an enemy of God in our minds would be to be at war with God. However we were so convicted of our position by the Spirit, but also with the aid of another person who enlightened our minds with the right words from scripture. That person planted the seed of faith within us through the word of God and the Spirit moved within to bring us to a peaceful solution to our conflict with God.

Rom 5:9-11

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

NIV

Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker and as we have confessed that we follow him and want to be like him, we too should be peacemakers between sinner and God. We cannot do want Jesus did, die on the cross to reconcile himself to us. But we can bring the good news to people who are currently enemies with God in their minds. What better position to live in then to be at peace with God.

Rom 5:1-2

5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

NIV

We have been rendered innocent, justified through faith and we now have peace with God. This is the message we can bring to the sinner, the one who is still having conflict with God. Then we truly will be the type of peacemaker that would give us the right to be called children of God.