Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. – Matthew 5:9
Will and Ariel Durant were husband and wife collaborators in writing the extensive 11-volume History of Civilization. When their 40-year project was concluded in 1975, it was “among the best-known” accounts of “popular philosophy and history,” according to Britannica. Nor was this the extent of their writings, for they published many more books on philosophy, social issues, and even a novel. They were awarded more than one Pulitzer Prize for their extensive works. In their book, The Lessons of History, the chapter on “History and War” sizes up the lessons of war this way: “War is one of the constants of history and has not diminished with civilization and democracy. In the last 3,421 years of recorded history, only 268 have seen no war.“ Their book was published in 1968. Since then, according to the British Imperial War Museum’s data, the world has experienced 18 or more conflicts.
The world longs for peace. Voters often hope to elect a peacemaker. According to the dictionary, peacemakers are “those who make or establish peace, especially by reconciling parties marked by a state or condition ranked by a lack of agreement or harmony.” In the Greek, a peacemaker was “an ambassador sent to entreat for peace.” The term also described rulers who used force to establish peace. Rabbis and philosophers of the first century called God a peacemaker. Thus, it would make sense to those who heard Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount that He would call peacemakers “sons of God.“
Theologian Charles H. Spurgeon said the peacemaker “sometimes putteth himself between the two, when they are very angry, and taketh the blows from both sides, for he knows that so Jesus did, who took the blows from his Father and from us also, that so by suffering in our stead, peace might be made between God and man.” Warren Wiersbe stated, “Christians should bring peace, between people and God and between those who are at odds with each other.”
You probably won’t be tasked by the State Department to be the ambassador who entreats for peace in the Ukraine or the Middle East. But God may call you to intervene between siblings, neighbors, or even fellow church members who are not seeing eye to eye. And, as much as it is possible, “so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18). Pray for those men and women whose governments have given them the responsibility of striving to secure peace agreements in these times.
Today’s Verse: Matthew 5:9
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Hebrews 12:1-2, 12-17
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
