In a world that often seems filled with division and chaos, the concept of finding peace can feel like an unattainable dream. The truth is, the path to true peace is paradoxical – it doesn’t come by changing the circumstances around you. True, lasting peace comes by making an internal transformation. No matter what is going on in our world, with Christ we can not only find peace ourselves, we can actually bring peace into the chaos around us. We can be peacemakers.
The journey to becoming a peacemaker starts with recognizing our own spiritual poverty. It’s only when we acknowledge our brokenness and need for Jesus that we can truly embrace the peace that goes beyond our understanding. This humility opens the door to a profound perspective change, allowing us to see the world through a lens of compassion and grace.
Challenging Truths:
As we look further into the wisdom Jesus shared in the sermon on the mount, we encounter a series of truths that will challenge our thinking:
1. Blessed are those who mourn: In a culture that often celebrates superficial happiness, there’s a hidden blessing in embracing our grief. This mourning isn’t just about personal loss, but a deep sorrow for the brokenness of our world. It’s through this genuine grief that we find true comfort and the motivation to seek positive change.
2. Meekness inherits the earth: Even though the world puts an emphasis on assertiveness and dominance, it is actually the meek – those who humbly submit to a higher purpose – who ultimately find fulfillment and influence.
3. Hunger for true righteousness: The culture around us usually creates its own definitions of what’s right, but we are called to seek a higher standard of righteousness. A stable foundation that aligns with timeless, divine principles rather than shifting cultural norms.
4. The power of mercy: In a world quick to judge and slow to forgive, showing mercy becomes a radical act. As we extend grace to others, we open ourselves to receiving the same in return.
5. Purity of heart leads to spiritual insight: The pursuit of inner purity – aligning our thoughts, motivations, and actions with love and truth – allows us to see things in the life around us with greater insight and purpose.
These principles add up to a profound truth. True peacemakers are recognized as children of God. This isn’t a statement of universal divine parenthood, but rather a special relationship reserved for those who actively pursue and embody peace. All people are God’s creation, but not all of us are God’s children.
In another case of paradox, this peace isn’t a passive state of conflict avoidance. It’s an active, sometimes challenging process that begins with making peace with God. The apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 5:1 that “since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This foundational peace with our Creator becomes the spring from which all our other peacemaking efforts flow.
Right Relationship:
Finding peace in a world of Chaos then, isn’t about the absence of conflict, but about the presence of right relationship – first with God, and then with others. It requires confronting the discord within our own hearts, battling against our selfish nature, and allowing divine wisdom to shape our responses to the world around us.
This inner transformation manifests outwardly through the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities stand in stark contrast to the acts of the flesh. Things like sexual immorality, impurity, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, and the like, These all only serve to destroy peace and harmony.
The wisdom that produces peace is described beautifully in James 3:17-18: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”
This peace-filled wisdom doesn’t shy away from truth or compromise on important principles. Instead, it approaches conflicts and disagreements with a spirit of humility, always seeking understanding and reconciliation where possible.
Reconciliation:
As we grow in this divine wisdom, we become ambassadors of reconciliation in a fractured world. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 reminds us that God “reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation… We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”
This calling transcends political affiliations, cultural identities, or national boundaries. Our primary citizenship is in the kingdom of heaven, and our ultimate allegiance is to the King of Kings. This perspective allows us to engage with the challenges of our world – including political and social issues – with wisdom, grace, and an eternal perspective.
Living as peacemakers doesn’t guarantee an easy life. In fact, it often leads to misunderstanding and even persecution. Yet, there’s a profound joy and purpose in aligning our lives with this higher calling.
Walking It Out:
As we navigate the complexities of relationships, societal issues, and global challenges, we’re invited to continually return to the source of true peace. When we are attempting to find peace in a world of chaos, we remember the ultimate act of peacemaking – Christ’s sacrifice that bridged the divide between humanity and God. This remembrance renews our commitment to be instruments of that same reconciling love in our spheres of influence.
In a world crying out for genuine peace, may we have the courage to be the peacemakers our communities, nations, and world so desperately need. Share on XThe path of a peacemaker is not for the faint of heart. It requires courage, wisdom, and a willingness to confront both internal and external sources of conflict. Yet, as we embrace this calling, we find ourselves participating in something far greater than ourselves – the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan for creation.
In a world crying out for genuine peace, may we have the courage to be the peacemakers that our communities, nations, and world so desperately need. Let us soak in the peace of God, allowing it to transform us from the inside out. That way when life squeezes us, what flows out will be love, grace, and a wisdom that brings true healing to our broken world.
If you enjoyed this post you may also be interested in Jim’s ebook – Unshaken: Overcoming Anxiety in a Stress Filled Life. You can download it for free here!
https://realliferesources.org/ebook/unshaken-overcoming-anxiety-in-a-stress-filled-life/
This post was adapted from Jim Putman’s sermon Paradox: Peacemakers – you can watch it below, along with his after the sermon discussion on The Overtime Podcast.
