Matthew 5:9 New International Version (NIV)
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
What does this scripture really mean? I am sure that there are many interpretations and here is mine. Christ came to make peace between God and us since we are sinners and God cannot be in the presence of sin. Those that follow Christ have found their peace for He is their peace. If we are to continue representing Christ, then we need to strive to make peace.
Is making peace easy? Heck no. I do not thrive on confrontation, but I will not shy away from it. In fact I have the attitude that I must win at all costs sometimes. All of which is the antithesis of peace.
Striving to make peace is like the old saying pick your battles. Some of us an me included do not choose our battles wisely. In fact, I am willing to go to war at anytime I must, but that is the wrong attitude.
If I represent Christ and I am supposedly at peace, but my actions are to fight every battle with a no holds barred attitude, then what does that say about Christ? To me it says He is a warrior that wants nothing but to destroy his enemies, but that is not what Christ preached.
Matthew 5:43-48 New International Version (NIV)
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Being a Peacemaker is not easy and with the enemy constantly whispering in our ear to fight, fight, fight, then it makes it that much harder. With that said we all need to strive to be Peacemakers. Start small and the next time something happens and you want to go to war, take a second and capture your thoughts as instructed.
2 Corinthians 10:5 New International Version (NIV)
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Then ask yourself is this something worth really fighting over? I bet if you took 0.5 seconds to ask yourself that question, the answer will probably be a resounding “No”.