“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” – Matthew 5:9
It is estimated that there has been a little over 260 years of peace in all of recorded history. While there are many causes for conflict, we still desire to have peaceful resolutions. Now, we find Jesus referring to the blessed as “peacemakers.” This echoes once again our previous reading of Hebrews 12:14, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” When we looked at the “pure in heart” we seen that our motivation towards others must be filled with sincerity and now we see that the people of God will also seek to create peace into all the chaos that is around them. Something that feels easier said than done.
The foundation of the peacemakers is that they are at peace with God and thus find themselves filled with sweet peace. They live in peace, and if possible, with all men (Rom. 12:18) and work to keep and to make peace wherever peace is threatened or lost. James shows us how wisdom from God creates this and the other beatitudes within us, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17). It is clear that it is impossible to be consistent in this character and behavior without it coming first from God. We are led by him and, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). We are God’s children and we bear the resemblance of our Father in Heaven when we show mercy, love and peace toward others. As Luke recorded Jesus saying, “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil” (Luke 6:35).
This is one of the most interesting thoughts then come up at this point. We already know that Jesus is the King and this is His inauguration address for His kingdom. In it we find the description of this kingdom’s citizens. Now we have a promise that they are the sons of God and this is where we find out a special relationship that all the citizens have with King. They are family. They are the children of God and joint-heirs with Christ their Elder Brother. This is one of the several reasons that the Kingdom of Heaven citizens portray so many traits reflective of God’s character. They are not only His people, they are His children! What promise and excitement that we are not only followers and friends with Jesus but we are family!
Jeremy Kamer Ministries 