Loving Peace

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

LOVING PEACE

Matt 5:9

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

NIV

Once again, we should remind ourselves that it is the happy, content, fulfilled, satisfied person who is completely connected to God, which is all wrapped up in the word, blessed, is a peacemaker. It would be beneficial for us to understand what Jesus meant by using the word peacemakers. It is interesting this word is used only twice in the whole Bible. This Greek word can not be seen as one who is peaceful or one who is a pacifist, but one who establishes peace with others. This is also not to be seen as one who sits as an arbitrator of opposing views or opinions that insight an argument, which might be the most normal view of this word, peacemakers. From our investigation of this Greek word, it would seem the best way to see this is we should live loving peace. That is, we should be exhibiting the peace of God in our lives. This would also mean that we are not at odds with peace, which would mean we do not insight discord for we love peace. It would also mean that if we feel in any way that we have been offended or our feelings are hurt, or being too sensitive, getting upset, we have not understood what it means to love peace and thus be at peace, which results in living in peace and being one who is making peace, or a peacemaker. This would be having the peace of God which passes all understanding, but then that is why if we are living in such a manner that we love peace, we are called children of God. When we think of children of parents, we know from a medical or scientific understanding the child has the same DNA as the parents or is at least a combination of components from both parents. Therefore, many children resemble their parents in both looks and in some sense personality, although each person is unique onto themselves. Nevertheless, the point being that because we live in a manner loving peace, we are resembling our heavenly Father's peace. But what if we are not resembling the peace of God in our lives? Then who are we resembling? Who insights discord? Who creates chasms in harmony? Who causes us to feel offended? Who causes us to hold grudges? Who causes us to be discontent, or unfilled, unsatisfied, unhappy, and therefore unblessed? Can we blame all that on the evil one, or can we put some of the blame on ourselves, the selfish self? No, we have to put self aside, and make every effort to do which leads to peace and mutual edification, being that peacemaker and thus living as a child of God.