Blessed Are the Peacemakers
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Friction points
Ex: [IMAGE] What’s the correct way to install the paper roll in the bathroom?
Silly, but it is an example of a situation where people can get into conflict with one another.
There are a lot more important friction points in life. They are created by stress, pressure, upbringing, expectations, changes in our lives, etc.
When we experience any friction point, we become angry, defensive, hurt, emotional. Let it go on long enough and chronic anxiety, depression, unhealthy coping behaviors become common.
What we want is peace. The question is how to get there.
“Peace at any price.” We choose not to engage in conflict or we passively resist the conflict and submit to the other party just to keep from having a fight.
“Peace at MY price.” This is aggressive, potentially bullying tactics. Most of us wouldn’t want to admit to doing this but sometimes we’re just going to get our way and everyone else can just deal.
You go your way, I’ll go mine.” this works, sometimes. But never addresses what the real problem is. Usually just “kicks the can down the road.”
Secular behavioral experts will tell you, that in cases where conflict cannot be resolved and peace is unlikely to result, that you should limit or cease any contact with the other party.
This isn’t necessarily bad advice. Some situations and people are so toxic that to continue to interact with them could result in mental, spiritual or physical harm.
Jesus, on the other hand, tells us in the Beatitudes that we are designed to be peacemakers.
How do we understand peacemaking? What do we do when we hit those friction points in life?
9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
Blessing = God’s favor, approval. Always results in our good.
Peace = Heb. shalom - wholeness, well-being, peace, contentment, full relationship, harmony, safety. Gk. eirene = same sense.
Peace is the ultimate good of salvation and restoration of all things in creation. By erasing the penalty of sin (which breaks creation), Jesus has restored our peace with God and with one another.
Making peace, as we will see, is the disciple’s active participation in the kingdom work of restoration.
Children of God = “Being designated with the quality of” God. In this case, God’s inherent desire to love and restore us and creation to the fulness of His image. We are like our Father when we seek peace.
So, LJS interp.:
God is pleased when we actively pursue wholeness and well-being for ourselves and others. Peacemaking shows that we are like our Father.
God is pleased when we actively pursue wholeness and well-being for ourselves and others. Peacemaking shows that we are like our Father.
What do we do to pursue peace?
Start With Honesty
Start With Honesty
Let’s get the hard part out of the way.
Most conflict goes on way too long because we’re being “nice” and don’t want to make a fuss.
How many times have we done something, had a habit, etc that makes someone else crazy and didn’t know it for the longest time?
Not intentional. Glad to modify the behavior, right? (usually)
10 “This will happen because these evil prophets deceive my people by saying, ‘All is peaceful’ when there is no peace at all! It’s as if the people have built a flimsy wall, and these prophets are trying to reinforce it by covering it with whitewash!
While Ezekiel is addressing a specific problem in Israel, the principle holds.
We’re whitewashing problems all around us.
6 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.
Accept the Risk
Accept the Risk
19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
Jesus accepted the ultimate risk and paid the highest price to bring peace between God and creation.
24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church.
There are times when it could be risky to promote peace. Whether we’re trying to facilitate someone returning to God for peace in their soul, or trying to work to restore a broken relationship, it’s not always well received.
Relational risk, discomfort, a rebuke, accepting that we were wrong, among many other potential risks for becoming peacemakers.
Peacemaking is Active
Peacemaking is Active
Just do it.
3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.
18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.