Matthew 5:9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

It should come as no surprise, then, that a peacemaker emulates Jesus. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. A peacemaker works to reconcile people with God and each other.

Decide to bring peace with you wherever you go. Maybe, you were hired to bring peace. Maybe, you’re serving in that boardroom to bring peace. Maybe, you bought that house to bring peace to the community. Just maybe, you are light in darkness and peace in chaos. Maybe God is using you to bring His Peace to the tumultuous circumstance. 

Choose to let His Peace water your heart. Let His Peace flow through your words. Let His Peace guide your actions. Choose to create peace and hold your peace. Matthew 5:9 AMPC states, “Blessed are those who enjoy enviable happiness. They are spiritually prosperous, with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions. These are the makers and maintainers of peace. They shall be called the sons of God!” Maybe you’re set in place for such a time as this. Choose to bring peace. 

Let peace flourish in your decision-making process. Let His Peace guide you instead of letting fear rule and dominate you. Let peace rule your tongue. Let His Peace guard your heart. The peacemakers are happy. They love, desire, delight in peace; and study to be quiet. They keep the peace that it be not broken and recover it when it is broken. If the peacemakers are blessed, woe to the peace-breakers!

“Peace is not simply the absence of conflict, but the existence of justice for all people.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Qualities of a Peacemaker

A peacemaker promotes, embraces, and is convicted by these values:

• Harmony: A peacemaker actively works to promote harmony and unity among individuals and communities. This involves resolving conflicts, fostering understanding, and encouraging reconciliation.
• Forgiveness: Peacemakers embody the value of forgiveness. They seek to reconcile relationships by extending forgiveness to others and promoting the idea that forgiveness leads to healing.
• Humility: Humility is a key quality of a peacemaker. Being humble means putting others’ needs and concerns before your own. It involves seeking understanding rather than insisting on being right.
• Justice: Peacemakers are advocates for justice. They work towards addressing root causes of conflicts, promoting fairness, and standing up against oppression and injustice.
• Love: Love, as taught in Christianity, is a foundational quality for a peacemaker. This includes love for God and love for one’s neighbor. Love motivates actions that contribute to peace and well-being.
• Patience: Peacemakers exercise patience in dealing with conflicts. They understand that the process of reconciliation and peacebuilding may take time, and they persevere through challenges.
• Willingness to Listen: Effective peacemakers actively listen to the concerns and perspectives of others. By understanding different points of view, they can handle the root causes of conflicts and find common ground for resolution.
• Reconciliation: The goal of a peacemaker is often reconciliation. This involves restoring broken relationships, facilitating healing, and helping individuals or communities move ahead in unity.

Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.

Martin Luther King, Jr.