Daily Devotional For Monday, September 2, 2024
Well, I guess most of you are back to work today except for you retirees and students. I pray that your week is a great one for the Lord. We are looking at the greatest and most famous sermon ever – Jesus’ Sermon On The Mount. Specifically, we are in The Beatitudes, found in Matthew 5:3-12. Currently we are looking at Be, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” NASB). So, what are peacemakers and what do they do in order to see God?
- First, one who is a peacemaker is one who has made himself or herself at peace with God. Before Jesus Christ came and we were saved, we were at war against God. It doesn't matter how good we thought we were, prior to Christ, we were engaged in a battle against God. Until we both affirm and accept this, we cannot be reconciled to God or have peace with God. The Apostle Paul wrote this in Romans 5:10, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (NASB). Once we responded to God’s invitation for reconciliation with Him, we were made at peace with God and that is why we can enjoy and experience His peace. Look at Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (NASB). Read also Colossians 3:15, ‘Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful” NASB).
The danger and vulnerability we all share as disciples of Jesus Christ is our tendency to compromise this peace we have from God due to sin. Therefore, we must strive for holiness and godliness independent of what others might do or say to us or not do and not say to us. Blaming other people for your misery is inevitably blaming God for it also. This is what the Hebrews did in the wilderness that the Old Testament calls murmuring or complaining or grumbling. Sin always breaks and destroys our peace with God and others. This is why we need to confess our sin and repent from it immediately.
2. Second, as disciples of Jesus, peacemakers help lead others to Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, so that He can save them and give them His peace. This is why we must be careful that we do not get the big head. Until we are in heaven, we are sinners saved by the grace of God. We are not better than anyone else, but we are different – redeemed. When we look at the religious leaders in Jesus’ day , they were not peacemakers. They were prideful, self-righteous, condemning, and satisfied where they were in life. Because they did not have any interests in making peace with Rome, Samaritans and other Jews they considered “unclean” or “a wretched sinner.” instead of bringing peace, they brought pain. According to Acts 10:36, here is the purpose of the church: “The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)” (NASB).
3. Third, in addition to helping people find peace with God, we help people find peace with others. Once we give our lives to Jesus Christ, we are automatically considered to be peacemakers. Why? Jesus Christ has resolved our being at peace with Him and He then sends us into the world to help others find peace with God and each other. This means we must be bridge builders to people. We must do everything through the power of Christ to build bridges to people and to help them be at peace with others. Look at what the Apostle Paul says in Romans 12:18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men” (NASB). All men? Yes, even those we might consider to be our enemies. Look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:44-45, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (45) so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (NASB).
Bridge-building is no easy task. Bridges have to be maintained, repaired and even rebuilt at times. Weather, wear and waste weakens bridges over time. Bridges need this support so that they stay suspended and connect both sides. When a bridge is not maintained, it eventually collapses. What is true with a bridge is also true of a relationship. When it comes to Christian relationships, both sides must be supported by holiness, godliness and righteousness. This means at times you have to be willing to help the other build their side so that that the bridge stays supported.
This means at times we have to take the initiative to confront and rebuke people, especially people who call themselves, Christians, about their sin. Sin is the major prohibitor of peace. Jesus gave us a command about doing this in Matthew 18:15-17:
“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. (16) But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. (17) If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector” (NASB).
This is no easy task. It often causes anger, resentment and controversy, but this is no excuse for not doing it. If we do this in the attitude God says, in love, rather than in condemnation or pride, then things might turn out differently. Can it ruin a relationship? Yes, but it’s the price for peace and reconciliation.
4. I love what pastor and author John MacArthur says.:
“A peacemaker endeavors to find a point of agreement. God’s truth and righteousness must never be compromised or weakened, but there is hardly a person so ungodly, immoral, rebellious, pagan, or indifferent that we have absolutely no point of agreement with him. Wrong theology, wrong standards, wrong beliefs, and wrong attitudes must be faced and dealt with, but they are not usually the best places to start the process of witnessing or peacemaking” (Source: John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, “Matthew,” p. 216).
Pastor and author Leon Morris writes this in his commentary:
“The word peacemakers is found only here in the New Testament. It is quite general and is not qualified in any way, so that we are left wondering whether the primary reference is to the large scale (dealing with wars and the like) or the small scale (quarrels). That it is left general probably means that both are in mind. There is a quality of peaceableness, a disinclination to engage in disputes, that is admirable, but Jesus is talking about more than that. He refers not to peace-keepers but to peace-makers, people who end hostilities and bring the quarrelsome together. These are “not appeasers, but those who actively overcome evil with good.” A person may be known as one who ends hostilities throughout his whole sphere of life, whether that sphere be great or small” (Source: Leon Morris, The Gospel According To Matthew, pp. 100-101).
Questions To Consider
- In what ways would you say you have made peace with God? Would you say the “peace of God rules in your heart?” Why or why not?
- What are you personally doing to help people come to meet the Prince of Peace and experience His peace for them? Do you help people end hostilities, especially believers who have issues with other believers? Why or why not?
- Do you help people find peace or be reconciled to others? How do you build and maintain bridges to people so that they stay reconciled to God’s peace?
- Do you ever in a loving way, confront others in your church, small group or other Christians who sin (who are not part of your own family) as Jesus described in Matthew 18?
- What is the evidence you are at peace with all of God’s truth in Scripture?
Scripture To Meditate On: Romans 5:10, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, please help me help people come to meet the You, thePrince of Peace. Please help me to have the courage to build and maintain relationships with people, even confronting other Christians in a loving way when they make light of their own sin.”
I love you, Southside!--Pastor Kelly