PEACEMAKERS - Matthew 5:9
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
When you add knowledge of the ways of God to your life, then you understand how God expects you to live. Not only do you read the commands of Christ on how to live, but you can also study the life of Christ and see how HE fulfilled the commandments that he gave to you. It is your duty to understand the ways of God, ignorance of the ways of God will not be a valid excuse come judgment day.
In this passage we are told that we are to be peacemakers. This means that we should be looking to settle disputes rather than stir them up. We should not be quick to go to court with our adversary but instead you try to settle the matter peaceably. We should not be looking to stir up fights with others, but instead should be looking to cause peace.
Jesus Christ did not come with a sword to rid this world of its sinners. The day will soon be here when Christ will come to fight, but at this time, we have an obligation to God to love our enemies as ourselves. You would not go out and take a sharp knife and cut yourself, so also, to be a peacemaker, you cannot do to others what you yourself do not want to have happen to you.
You do not want others to speak ill will of you, so why should you talk about them behind their back. You do not want others to single you out and make fun of you, so why do it to them. You do not want to be left alone in a crowded room, so do not do it to others. A peacemaker understands that it is not all about them, but that there are things more important than having their own way when they want it.
Rebekah was not a peacemaker. Rebekah had heard that her husband Isaac was going to bless her firstborn Esau. Rebekah remembered the words of God how Jacob was to rule over Esau. Rather than allow God to take care of giving Jacob the proper blessing in accordance with the word of the Lord, Rebekah took matters into her own hand.
It was God who opened her womb to enable her to have children. It was God who spoke with her and told her all about the two boys. But when she made Jacob steal the blessing from his older brother, Rebekah was acting on her own accord. Rebekah ended up not seeing her son Jacob again. Shortly after her deception, it became clear that her son Esau desired to kill Jacob. Rebekah ended up taking matters into her own hands and she ended up starting a family fight that would last for generations.
Right after Judas betrayed Jesus in the Garden, Peter pulled his sword out and cut off the ear of a servant who was at hand. Jesus immediately rebuked Peter and then proceeded to heal the same individual who was there to cause him harm. Jesus understood that HE had to suffer for righteousness sake. Jesus understood that HE needed to be an example to us of how we are supposed to live our lives. Jesus had all power, but HE yielded that power so that HE might live at peace with man, even though these same men were out to destroy HIM.
We understand that we are not loving our neighbor and living our life as a peacemaker because the world will love us and return the favor. We live our lives in accordance with the word of God so that the light of God reflects through us and so that the world sees that we are different and thus understand that we belong to God. We do not live our lives as a peacemaker because it is fun, we live our lives as a peacemaker because it draws the attention of the world to HIM.