Inasmuch as we have taken a hippopotamus-sized pregnant pause since the last time we looked at the beatitudes, I’ll take a moment to remind you where we were. (You can read the rest of the devotions on the beatitudes here.)
Last time we saw Jesus, seated on a mountain, speaking to the multitudes of people who had gathered to hear Him, saying, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
We saw that the more we allowed God to purify our hearts of sinful attitudes and habits, the better we would be able to see our God. Walking in the Spirit allows us to know Spirit.
The next precept that Jesus builds upon the last is this: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
Jesus was the supreme Peacemaker between the Father and each of us as He hung on the cross. Our sins had separated us from a Holy God. But our redemption dripped from the hands and feet of the Son of God. The veil to the Holy of Holies in the Temple was ripped from top to bottom and we were granted entrance to God Himself. Once redeemed, that reconciliation brought peace to our souls.
The more we see and know God, we will have an increasing desire to walk people whose sins have separated them from God to that Bridge. Now more than ever people need Jesus. All around us there is suffering and pain and death. Are we content to cocoon ourselves in our own little worlds while people around us are blindly trudging through this life, not knowing that Someone has bridged that gap and paid for their sins? Not knowing that a peace awaits them by accepting that supreme payment that was made for them on Calvary?
Who around you is dying in their sins? Pray and ask God to show you who He would have you 1. pray for; 2. show the love of Jesus to; and 3. be bold in your conversation to about Jesus and all He has done for them and how they can know peace through salvation.
The Holy Spirit also brings our spirits peace as He comforts us in our repentance. He is not a grudgeholder, but a peacekeeper. And He comforts us in our trials and sufferings as He gives us a supernatural peace that surpasses all our human understanding.
Likewise, we also are to, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18) This means where forgiveness needs to be given, we are to give it. And when it needs to be asked for, we are to humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness. And a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit will lead us to seeing when our brothers and sisters in Christ are in need of prayer, which is a spiritual bridge, under which the river of peace flows into their hearts and lives.
The enemy of God is hard at work bringing turmoil into this world and into people’s lives. People are sick, out of work, divorcing, struggling with addiction. We don’t have time to go about our lives, business as usual, focusing only on the temporal: going to work, entertaining ourselves, getting our eight hours and getting up the next day to do it all over again. The spiritual warfare is stepping up, and we need to as well. Does your family need peace; your workplace; an unsaved neighbor? Determine in your heart to be the one through whom God’s peace flows.
As much as we allow ourselves to be used as conduits of peace, we resemble our Father, and will be called the children of God.
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Thanks for sharing!