Blessed (VIII) are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God

The Scripture calls us as much as possible within us,  to live at peace with all (Romans 12:18), but this beatitude (Matthew 5:9) goes further,  and talks about those who promote peace between those in need of reconciliation. If making peace with those with who we are individually at loggerheads can be difficult,   trying to bring peace to warring factions can be doubly so! But it's Kingdom Work.   And perhaps the main reason that we who are   promised eternal life (John 5:24) are not immediately taken home to heaven,   is that we are left here to be Ambassadors.  Ambassador “as though God were pleading through us imploring others,   on Christ’s behalf, to be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).   And part of the reason this, and all other roles as peacemakers are difficult,  is that we have an enemy of our souls whose agenda is to kill, seal and destroy (John 10:10a).

It strikes me therefore,  that it is  no coincidence that this morning's beatitude  comes between that of the pure in heart, and the persecuted.   In particular in terms of being pure in heart in evangelism, our motives are important. Do we share the gospel out of a preacher's guilt trip, or to look good to our brothers and sisters?   In more general terms, I know of one situation where  a so called mediator was far from neutral, though he pretended to be. He was in fact seeking to limit the influence of one of the waring parties. It did not end well!   In terms of persecution,   a mediator can finish up being persecuted by both sides.   The point,  is that a go-between is often pressured by both sides,  to see and embrace their point of view, and to minimize that of the other side.

It can also be no coincidence that   I was remind yesterday, of the Colombia's  government  and Farc rebels peace deal that, after 52 years of war,   was agreed to in 2016. The speaker was telling of an incident that had happened at a secular conference.    There had been an emotional reconciliation between two individuals,  both of whom were feeling guilt for their part in the violence. The one was a woman who had been kidnaped as a child and was forced to be a soldier in the rebel army, the other was   from the army that opposed the rebels. I have a sneaking suspicion that the Lord was behind this, I mean it was certainly not the Devil!   But what struck me,  is that if this can happen in the secular, how much more should it happen in the church.   And we need to hear it again this morning “Blessed   are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”

Father the phrase “like father, like son,” comes to mind as I think on these things. Truly there is one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 25). And we are never more like You Father when we, like Your Son are active in our role as peacemakers be it inside or outside the Church.   We need Your Grace Lord, and Your wisdom and courage and   tenacity,  and we are asking for it this morning Lord,  in Jesus Name Amen