Be a Peacemaker

Throughout the Bible, we see how much God wants us to be peaceful in our interactions with others.

Verses:

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Mark 9:50b

Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Romans 12:18

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Romans 14:19

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

1 Corinthians 1:10

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:31–32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Philippians 2:2

“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

Philippians 4:2

“I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.”

Colossians 3:15

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

1 Thessalonians 5:13

“…And be at peace among yourselves.”

2 Timothy 2:23

But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender[create] strifes.

Hebrews 12:14

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness…”

James 3:17–18

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

Challenges:

There are

(1) In Matthew 10:34, Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” Does this mean Jesus is teaching we should be divisive? In context, it’s actually non-believers causing division; two verses later, He said, “a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.”

Often, when someone leaves his religion in order to follow Jesus, his family abandons him. Persecution stories often tell how Hindus, Buddhists, and especially Muslims treat their Christian family members with harshness and even violence.

(2) Another challenge is our approach to sin. Peace doesn’t always mean unity (2 Corinthians 6:14–18) or affirmation of sin (1 Corinthians 5:1–11).

So, how do we promote peace? It can simply be shown through meekness. “The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves…” (2 Timothy 2:24–25).

The most peaceful methods are the most persuasive. Speaking with harshness is often counter-productive by provoking people to defensiveness. We can warn those who are careless in a way that shows compassion mixed with truth. When Jonathan Edwards preached “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” it was a solemn warning. Warning people is a loving thing to do, and our love should be evident in the way we present the truth.

Proverbs 13:10 says, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” Proverbs 6:19 says that sowing discord is an abomination to God. Strife is a characteristic of those who are unsaved (Galatians 5:20–21).

In Luke 9:54–56, Jesus showed the spirit we are meant to have: “And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. …”

Make peace a priority!

Romans 14:19 says “follow after the things which make for peace.”

Think ahead to situations where you might normally respond with harshness, and prepare mentally by thinking of better responses.

Be a peacemaker by living intentionally, thinking of ways you can promote peace. Are there any changes you can make in your relationships, to be more peaceful?