Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 207 – Matthew 5:9 – The Peacemakers – Growing As Disciples
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9 (NIV)
Peacemakers
I want to be a peacemaker. I know you want me to be a peacemaker. How do you know that I want you to be a peacemaker in the world? I know that you want me to be a witness for you in the world. You want me to shine brightly in the darkness of this world. You want my life to be a demonstration of your love. You want others to be drawn to you through your life being lived out in and through me. Conflict is expected in this life. Peace is the exception. Love stands out. Someone who is truly a peacemaker is quite unique. That is who you want me to be. Yes, that is exactly who I want you to be.
There is a problem. What’s the problem? I have two natural responses to conflict. Neither of them are helpful. Neither of them are anything like being a peacemaker. What are your natural responses to conflict? I like to do battle with conflict. I like to engage in a good fight. I like to debate. I like to argue. I especially like to win, and I like to be right as well. How has this attitude worked out for you? Well, I may have won some arguments and debates. I might have even been right. But I have stirred up conflict and made no peace. That is not good. Yes, I know. You are far more interested in me winning people than in me winning arguments. Yes, I am. What is your other natural response to conflict? There is another, almost opposite part of me that wants to avoid conflict at all cost. I hate conflict. I will flee conflict. I will run from conflict. I will hide from conflict. I will ignore conflict. What is the problem with that attitude toward conflict? How can I be a peacemaker by running away from conflict? You can’t. I know.
There is another problem. What’s that? I don’t know how to be a peacemaker. I don’t have the wisdom I need to be a peacemaker. That is not a problem. That is part of the solution. What’s that? I don’t understand. You have acknowledged your need. You will need my wisdom to be a peacemaker. You will need to rely on me to help you to be peacemaker. I will give you the heart of a peacemaker. I will fill you with my thoughts and words and actions that will make for peace. Will you come to rely on me? Will you allow me to work in and through you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. You will be a peacemaker in the world.
Lord, I want to be your witness in the world. I want to shine brightly for you. I want to demonstrate your love to others. Help me to bring your peace into conflict filled situations. Give me your peace filled thoughts to think, words to speak and actions to take. Amen
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