LEARNING DAILY

 

Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”   Jesus

 

I knew this Beatitude was coming the day after election day.  As this page of the blog is being written there is no winner for the office of the President.  With that being so, I am disappointed that the voting was this close.  I have not been shy about saying this election was about people choosing godliness and righteousness or choosing to walk a different way.  The same ungodly and unrighteous individuals are still in office and will continue to push their agenda.  Please continue to pray that they do not get control of the Presidency.

 

With that said the last result of being filled with righteousness is to be a peacemaker.  I do not believe there are coincidences with God.  So, I chuckle at this being the beatitude the day after the election.  Tensions have been very high over who was going to be elected, higher than I have ever seen.  In our city, businesses have been bordered up due to the thought of violence over election results.   “Peacemakers” have been reconciled to God; they have peace with Him through the cross.  They attempt to live a life that is a witness to others regarding the love of Jesus Christ.  Christians need not hide at this time but live so others may see Christ in them and wonder – perhaps to ask – what makes you different.  Why are peacemakers blessed?  It is because they are unlike anyone else – they are children of God. 

 

Here is what Lloyd-Jones says about a peacemaker.  “It does not mean an easy-going person.  It does not mean peace at any price.  It does not mean anything to avoid trouble.  A true peacemaker is not an appeaser.  He is not concerned about maintaining the status quo.  He desires peace and he does all he can to produce peace.”  To understand what he is saying, we need to understand peace is not a political, economic, or social issue; essentially it is a matter of theology and doctrine.  It is a heart issue and involves a new nature.  A peacemaker needs to have a new heart, a pure heart.  A peacemaker must be cleansed of all envy, jealousies, from all self-centeredness.  To be a peacemaker it must to be completely neutral to bring two differing sides together. 

 

In other words, to be a peacemaker, we cannot look at everything in terms of the effect it has on us.  Here is the process Jesus explained.  If you are poor in spirit, if you have truly mourned over your sinful heart, if you have seen yourself as meek, and hungered and thirst for righteousness, you will no longer demand your rights and privileges.  You have forgotten yourself and can be a peacemaker.

 

How can you and I be a peacemaker today?  Let me answer that by relating what Dr. Ed Newton spoke at Community Bible Church this past weekend.  He, along with fifty other pastors from around the city got together, discussed, wrote and signed a “manifesto” about how to be a peacemaker during this time.  (Like I stated earlier, I do not believe in coincidences!)  I only wish I had the ten statements to correctly pass on.  Here is what He related to the congregation.  “As Christians, we do not choose an elephant or a donkey.  We choose the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  We can disagree without being disparaging.  Our gospel is our message – Jesus is the hope of the world!  Our identity goes beyond political affiliation; we pray for our leaders regardless if we voted for them or not.  We are salt and light to a dark world.  And, Jesus is our Commander-in-Chief!  That is not the complete list; however, it gives us some thoughts on how to be a peacemaker to this troubled nation and world.

 

The result of being a peacemaker is to be called sons of God.  A peacemaker is like God and becomes His ambassador of peace in a very troubled nation and world.

 

 

If you receive this blog through email, you can go to the regular blog page by moving your cursor to the top of the page and click on LEARNING DAILY header.  Then you can see the archived articles and comment section. You can also leave a comment by clicking on the date in the Comment Section.