The Midday Cafe
Some Of The Mid Day's Good News:
Making Peace
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9
Most of us are familiar with the activities of the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces. Members of the Peacekeeping Forces are universally recognized because of the light blue helmets or berets they wear when deployed. Their mission is not to make peace but to help keep peace. In general, they employ numerous civil strategies in support of governments and militaries who are attempting to make peace, that is, to settle disputes
That mission brings to mind Jesus’ words in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the peacemakers”—not the peacekeepers. While peacekeeping is undeniably challenging, peacemaking is harder. And Jesus assigns us the harder task of making peace in a world that leans toward conflict. In Romans 14:17-18, Paul summarized why peacemaking is so important. First, peace is one of the characteristics of the kingdom of God (verse 17). Second, those who pursue peace are “pleasing to God” (verse 18, NIV). Or to use Jesus’ words, peacemakers are “blessed” by God.
Peacemaking and peacekeeping are two sides of the same coin. We can start by “[pursuing] peace with all people” (Hebrews 12:14). Look for situations today in which you can introduce the peace of God to those who may lack it—and be blessed for your efforts.
Humility solders Christians together in peace.
Thomas Watson
