When you think about the word or the idea of peace what comes to mind? If someone were to hand you a bowl of peace what would be in it? Is peace simply freedom from disturbance or the absence of conflict or something much deeper?
A quick look into human history and you will see that peacemaking is not something that comes naturally for any of us, yet Jesus declares “blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God.” Is it possible to really know peace let alone be makers of peace in a troubled world?
Jesus says yes, but not in the way many of us would think. Biblical peace is “the spiritual harmony brought about by an individual’s restoration with God.” Thus a peacemaker is a restored individual who actively seeks for people to be reconciled and restored to God and to one another.
Peacemakers are Honest, willing to risk pain, and a fighter toward peace. They are called His children when they do the work of a peacemaker. It is to portray the character of God. Showing the world around them what His kingdom is about.
However, peace cannot be created by our own power. One must come to know the peace of Christ which he provided by reconciling a sinful and rebellious people back to a right relationship to God…
“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
– Colossians 1:19-20
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
– Romans 5:1-2
Let us be a people that proclaim the peace Christ that he has made on our behalf and faithfully pursue restoration and reconciliation in our own relationships by His power and grace.
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
– 2 Corinthians 5:18-20