Work for peace. Peacemaker. Work. Make.
Sounds like Jesus meant for His followers to understand that peace doesn’t just happen among mankind. I mean, just put a couple of innocent children together for a bit and at some point, one will take the toy of another and eruptions of feelings and desires occur, requiring the intervention of the Peacemaker.
Those who work for peace will be known as children of God. Known as. As in, understood to be.
Imagine that. Being noticed as being a child of God – not because you’ve said so, but because your consistent actions say so. Is there any greater honor?
I think that means that when we hear that juicy tidbit about you-know-who, we’re supposed to squash it. Right there. Say something that reminds the speaker that you’re not going to carry on that line of discussion. If the speaker has issues with you-know-who, we should get them together and help them talk out and reconcile those issues. Alone, without anyone’s posse.
I think it means that when two or more are arguing, we must never take a side. We can listen to both parties and hear what they’re saying, repeat it back to them… “I’m hearing you say _” so they hear a calm voice speaking back their impassioned words. We remain unflappable. We remain a place of peace in a moment of turmoil. We allow each to vent, but don’t agree. (Don’t you KNOW this is hard! We want to uh-huh or nod or say something positive, but we have to be sure that we don’t seem to be agreeing with what they are saying!)
In any case, we listen, gently interject truth, and love well. Realize, that loving doesn’t mean agreeing. It means loving despite the anger, the words, the ugliness. It means speaking truth when they don’t want to hear it, but doing so with a tender heart… with a longing for them to move closer to the Lord and away from their anger.
It is from our own place of peace with the Lord that we can offer peace to others.
Making peace among our children is difficult, but as the ones with authority, it’s doable. Same principles. Listen calmly, repeat their words back to them. If error exists, correct it. Love them.
Peacemakers, workers for peace, realize they must rely heavily on the Lord or they’ll be speaking into situations where they are most unwelcome and will not be heard. God gives the direction on who to speak to and how to do so. When we listen to Him and follow His lead, it will become obvious to all around us that we are children of Almighty God.
What an honor to be used thusly by the Lord!
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
