"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
– Matthew 5:9 ESV
This one seems very fitting for our world today. There’s so much division and hatred. When we disagree with someone, we tear them down and cut them off. We even do this to fellow Jesus-followers.
That’s not how God’s children should behave.
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. - Romans 14:17-19 ESV
For people to see that I am I child of God, I need to live in a way that’s different from the world around me. When I disagree with someone, I need to focus on what we’re disagreeing about instead of attacking the person. Even when I’m right and get attacked myself, I still must respond with love and mercy. That’s how my Father treats me when I’m wrong.
This can be really hard. Thankfully, I have Jesus and the Holy Spirit to help me. And, as we’ve seen throughout our look at the beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), the more closely I follow Him, the more He transforms my heart. The more He transforms my heart, the more I want everyone to know the peace I’ve found in Jesus. And having this heart helps me respond lovingly when attacked.
If I seek to understand why a person with different opinions thinks the way he does, I might find some common ground. We might begin to build a relationship instead of tearing one another down. We might get to the point where I can introduce Jesus to him if he hasn’t met Him yet.
Someone might see the difference Jesus makes in my life and know that I am one of His children.
Think About:
Are you a child of God?
How can you be a peacemaker today?
Such confirmation that our part with our son-in-law is to focus on what we are disagreeing about and not attack him in the way we feel attacked.