Being a Person of Peace

Devotional

One of the highest callings of God on the lives of his children is to be peacemakers. This world has no reason to have peace or give peace. While people are at war within themselves, striving to satisfy longings that can only be satisfied in God, we cannot expect them to bring peace around them. It’s for this reason that you and I are called to make peace at all costs.

Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” To be a child of God is to make peace with everyone around you, regardless of how they treat you. Jesus sought peace at every turn. Even his turning of the tables was a cry for peace between man and his Father in heaven. The passionate condemnation of sin in Scripture exists to rid that which separates us from the peace of God. The fight for heavenly peace in the lives of men is a cause worth sacrifice, unfair treatment, and even persecution. For example, Scripture teaches us in 1 Peter 3:9-11,

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.”

This world has no defense for unmerited blessing. It has no defense for the people of God loving unconditionally. When we choose not to repay evil for evil or revile when we’ve been reviled, we bring heaven to earth around us. No man or woman can live a truly peaceful life apart from the help of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Jesus said in Matthew 5:38-42,

You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

The next time someone does evil to you, remember that it was us who did evil to Jesus. The next time someone “slaps you on the right cheek,” remember that it was us who shouted, “Crucify him!” when Jesus had done nothing wrong. It was our sin that put Jesus on the cross, and yet he willingly sacrificed his life that we might know peace. It’s time for the people of God to choose to love others as Christ has loved us. It’s time for us to lay down our rights in this life that others might come to know the love we’ve been shown. May you be filled with the courage to love unconditionally today as you encounter God’s heart to fashion you into a peacemaker.