At Peace in a World at War - Himalayan Heights – July 26 Readings: Matthew 5:9 – Peacemakers

Matthew 5:1-12  The Beatitudes

All Scripture is God-breathed and useful, but there are some Scriptures that we can consider the Himalayan mountaintops of the Bible. In the next few months, we will be looking at a series of great texts that inspire and move us - the "Himalayan Heights" of God's Word.

Today's Reading:  Matthew 5:9

Jesus' most famous sermon took place on a mountain near the Sea of Galilee. There is enough meat packed into the three brief chapters of Matthew 5-7 to sustain years of Bible Study. The passage begins with the Beatitudes, expressions of blessing. The principles here run counter to everything people instinctively believe in this world. We want to be rich but Jesus invoked blessings on the poor in Spirit - and on and on it goes.

Again, this week, read the entire passage daily, then give special focus to the highlighted passage.

When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to teach them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the humble,

for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

11 “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Through the Bible Readings: Job 1-2, Acts 20, Psalm 88:4–10, Proverbs 18:16–18

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional: At Peace in a World at War    

We live in a world of "wars and rumors of wars" where terrorism terrorizes, political unrest reigns, where there are battles between rich and poor, between races, between husbands and wives, parents and children - almost every segment of society is plagued by division and strife. Even churches, meant to reflect the unity of Christ are often marked more by worldly strife and schism.

In a world like this, Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." He offered a special blessing to those who became agents of his peace in this world, not servants of the enemy's divisive intent. Those who make peace show themselves to be the true children of God. Obviously, we do not earn heaven by our works, even by making peace, but we demonstrate to the world who we belong to when we serve Christ's purpose instead of contributing to division and quarreling and strife.

Isn't it odd that Christians seem to believe they demonstrate their faith today by being contrary, by refusing to social distance or wear masks, but being belligerent on social media, by political name-calling and derogation? Somehow, a bellicose spirit has replaced peacemaking in our minds as the marker of true faith. Jesus said that those who served peace, who did not foment strife, were acting in line with his nature.

God created a world at peace, but that vanished when humanity rebelled against God's will. Detached from God, we lack peace of mind and peace of soul, which leads us to strive for supremacy in our relationships. That inner striving causes broken relationships and broken people and with enough of that, you have a culture, a society, a nation, and a world such as we have.

What is the solution? Human beings will never make peace their own way. True peace begins when we make peace with God in our hearts. When I submit my life to Jesus Christ, I have inner peace, what the Hebrews called shalom, a sense of God's presence and blessing.

When I am at peace with God, my heart is at peace, I have the resources to go out in this world and be a peacemaker. I do not have to fight every battle, respond to every insult, win every war. I can love my enemies, return good for evil, forgive those who hurt me, and live as Christ lived because I have that inner peace that comes from him!

Ephesians 1:14 says, "He is our peace." Peace is not something that comes from the world, but from Jesus, who dwells within us and works inside us. When we are right with him, at peace with him, when he rules our hearts as Prince of Peace, we can become advocates of peace, workers of peace in a world of war, of strife, and of division. 

Father, help me to stay close to your Son, the Prince of Peace, so that my heart might be at peace every day, so that I may live at peace with others and be an agent of YOUR peace in this world. 

Think and Pray:

Are you at peace with God, living under his blessing as you walk in obedience to Christ?
Are you an agent of peace or does conflict swirl around you?
Look at your relationships - are they marked by conflict? What might that say about whether you are a peacemaker or not?