Blessed are the Peacemakers:

If angry words were bullets, the air is full of lead these days. Political attacks and invective pour from news outlets and social media. The air is thick with this talk in our always-connected information age. It is sad to see, because such "contentions, jealousies, and outbursts of wrath" are evident as "works of the flesh" (Galatians 5:19-20). God wants us to remove such things from our lives and "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness" (Ephesians 5:11). He called us to be separate from this world and not a part of its warfare. Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).

A peacemaker of the kind Jesus spoke will not stir up strife. A peacemaker exhibits godly traits of "kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering" (Colossians 3:12). A peacemaker puts off the "anger, wrath, malice" and "filthy language," (Colossians 3:8) that we see far too much of today. A peacemaker works to keep peace with his neighbor. As Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome, "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18). That can be hard to do given the competitive, self-centered nature of our carnal minds. It requires constant watchfulness of our behavior, exercising self-control while keeping a close relationship with God.  

Some of us are more competitive and contentious by nature than others, but we must remove ourselves from all contention. You might be the kind who gets angry easily. But, as David the psalmist wrote, "be angry, and do not sin," and instead go "meditate within your heart...and be still" (Psalms 4:4).

The Proverb says, "It is honorable for a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel" (Proverbs 20:3). Yes, it is easy to give in to the urge to argue and prove ourselves right. But, if you feel the anger rising, remove yourself from the argument. For "the beginning of strife is like releasing water" (Proverbs 17:14). Once you spill that water from the bucket, you cannot get it back in. "Therefore, stop contention before a quarrel starts" (Same verse).

Let us always work to always keep peace with our neighbor, even in these days of politically charged rhetoric. If God's Spirit of peace is at work in your life, it will lead you away from engaging in such "wars and fights" that come from our human "desires for pleasure" (James 4:1). Be one of the peacemakers, whom Jesus calls "sons of God," (Matthew 5:19), and always "pursue the things which make for peace" (Romans 14:19)!

Warm regards,

Andy

Pastor