Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.
On a personal scale, the opposite of peace is not war, but bitterness, gossip, strife, and hatred. When Jesus says “Blessed are the peacemakers,” He has in mind those that love their enemies and pray for their persecutors (Matthew 5:44). Furthermore, Paul reminds us in Romans 5:8, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all.” It is apparent to us that Jesus and Scriptures place a great deal of importance on the extent to which we purposely make peace with others.
To pursue peace is to pursue the character of God. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace and we, as joint heirs with Him to the throne of grace, have been adopted into the family of God as sons and daughters, by which we can now call out to Him, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15-17). This adoption is made possible by the Holy Spirit, whose presence in us is marked by peace (Galatians 5:23). To be known as a peacemaker by those around you is to point them towards the Father.
Romans 8 teaches us that we have the freedom to live according to our human desires or to live according to the desires of the Spirit of God. According to the decision we make, multiple outcomes are possible. “For the mind set on flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace… for all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God (Romans 8:6, 14). There is an undeniable connection in Scripture between your making peace with others and being called a child of God.
How will you treat those around you today? Is your first reaction to make peace with your enemies or to add more fuel to the fire? I challenge you to remember who you are today. You are a child of the living God.