Peacemakers
Posted by Karah
Pause
Find a peaceful location inside or outside. Think about peaceful places in nature, then focus on the God who created those peaceful places.
Peacemaker n. = One who is actively involved in bringing reconciliation between those in conflict.
Mull over the definition of peacemaker above. Who are some famous peacemakers in history? How did they work to bring about peace and reconciliation? List a few ideas.
Now, think about your life. Who has been a peacemaker in your life? When has someone helped to bring peace and reconciliation when you were in conflict with someone else?
With those experiences in mind, read Matthew 5:9 in your Bible.
“The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God.” —Matthew 5:9
The peace discussed in this verse isn’t the end of a battle. It’s a sense of wholeness and harmony that can only be achieved through a relationship with Jesus.
Knowing this, what does it mean to be a peacemaker as described in this verse? Explain your answer.
Christians are peacemakers because they seek to reconcile people to God and each other. Others will see this and know that these people are truly God’s children. Who is a good example of this kind of peacemaking in your life? Why?
Respond
The only way for people to experience true peace and reconciliation is through a relationship with Jesus.
Those who don’t know Christ are at war with God. Who fits that description in your life? List two names in your journal.
Only the Holy Spirit can give a person peace with God, but peacemakers can show the way and assist people to understand how to be reconciled to God. What steps will you take this week to be a peacemaker in the lives of those people you listed above? Record two ideas in your journal. Pray that God would give you opportunities to follow through.
For further study, read Colossians 1:21-22 and Romans 5:10-11. How has God been a peacemaker to us? What is our part as peacemakers to others in this process?
Behind the Story
There are many kinds of peace, such as military, relational, and environmental, but the kind of peace in Matthew 5:9 is spiritual. A person at peace spiritually is a person at peace with God. The only way to be at peace with God is to become a child of God. People who have not been reconciled to God through the forgiveness of their sins are enemies of God (Rom. 5:10) and therefore are not at peace with Him.
The Point
Kingdom citizens are actively involved in bringing others to Jesus.
Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Weekly Devotions