“Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS for they will be called the children of God.”-Matthew 5:9
Notice Jesus didn’t say “peaceKEEPERS.” There is a huge difference in the two terms. A peaceKEEPER is a cowardly, passive nature that is tolerant of negative behavior, so as not to have to address it and feel uncomfortable in so doing. Peacekeepers operate from a self-preserving stance, never bringing Light to the darkness at hand. They go along to get along. Sadly, most professing Pastors are this person. Not good. Anyone see in the Bible where Jesus ever did that? Nope! Who is our example? Jesus. How do we “follow” Jesus? By being like Him and living like He demonstrated. That example far exceeds putting sin to death. It also means to speak the Word to our own hurt. We are commanded to be Salt and Light, or we won’t be saved.
Matthew 5:13-15
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
A peaceMAKER, someone God WILL accept as His child, is a Light-bringer, who makes peace possible by speaking the Truth to a given situation. Does a peaceMAKER always bring peace to every situation? Did Jesus? No!!! Jesus cannot force a person to repent of wrong, accept Truth, or be forgiving. He merely carried the peace of God, found in the Word of God, and spoke it aloud in all situations, often to His own discomfort and personal harm.
A “peaceKEEPER“ is a selfish people pleaser. They worry about their status among men, and their livelihood. A peaceMAKER is a selfless voice for Christ. The peaceMAKER is the only one who God is willing to call a son or daughter. Doing the right thing costs you this life. Doing the wrong thing will forfeit the next life for this one.
Psalms 119:165
“Great peace have those who love your law;
nothing can make them stumble.“
What is peace? God’s Truth. Who is the agent through which it comes? PEACEMAKERS are the true children of Christ, who will be bold for Christ without compromise. Love your law? Yes, there is a law in the New Covenant; the Law of Christ (Red Letter), aka the law of the Spirit, or the Law of Grace. Why else would Jesus, at judgment say to some, “Depart from Me you workers of LAWLESSNESS!”
John 8:31
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “IF you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Peace comes from surrender to Truth. Peacemakers speak the Truth so that those without peace may find it.