“The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God.“
Matthew 5:9
Holy Bible Holman Christian Standard Bible, Black/Burgundy, Leathertouch, Personal Size Bible. Holman Bible Pub, 2014.
In this series on the beautiful attitudes, we have noted the Sermon on the Mount as the manifesto of the kingdom of God. We have said that the beatitudes describe the new nature that is reborn in the heart of Jesus-followers. It is a passage about identity in Jesus. We continue on in our search to understand the attitude and tactics of the regenerate believer. Today, we arrive at the practice of peace-making.
With a quick look at the Greek Lexicon, a person with limited knowledge of Biblical languages can tell that “eirēnopoios”, the word translated as “peacemaker”, is a compound word. It literally comes out something like “peace-doer”. The peace-doer is a person who actively cultivates peace in the world. There is a creative aspect to this. The language speaks of one who fashions rest and quiet into being. As individual followers of Jesus, we are called to be craftspeople of harmony and tranquility in the world.
“I will listen to what God will say; surely the LORD will declare peace to His people, His godly ones, and not let them go back to foolish ways. His salvation is very near those who fear Him, so that glory may dwell in our land.“
Psalm 85:8-9
Holy Bible Holman Christian Standard Bible, Black/Burgundy, Leathertouch, Personal Size Bible. Holman Bible Pub, 2014.
Where do we turn for the raw materials of peace? Look no further than the Word of God, His Holy Scriptures, the Bible. The Word of God is a sackful of raw and unadulterated grains of Truth. The abiding peace of God is found therein (Rm. 5:1-2). This is the peace enjoyed by one who has Jesus for their advocate. This is the peace of one vouched for and defended by God Himself. This is the peace of one who has complete and full disclosure in the grace of Almighty God through the blood of Jesus. We can rejoice in the reality of such peace, for His salvation is close at hand.
The peace in the heart of the Jesus-follower is the basis of heartfelt worship. This peace is the knowledge of life and light that wells up within our souls. This peace brims to overflowing. When peace manifests itself, it sounds like a delightful and joyful song. Doing the will of the father is a peaceful and joyful act. Putting His Word into practice becomes a delightful song of praise (Ps. 40:8). In the peace of God, God’s instruction is etched in unforgettable ink on our hearts. The Word of God becomes the lyrics to our life’s song of praise.
“The believer delights in the law of God in the inner man even as he grieves over the rebellion against that law he finds in himself.”
(Beeke, p. 666)
Beeke, Joel R., et al., editors. Family Worship Bible Guide. Reformation Heritage Books, 2016.
This song of praise will undoubtedly highlight our own sinfulness. The bright and shining song of light and life illuminates the depravity of our own shortcomings and failings. The Jesus-follower who strives to fashion peace will continue to seek the Word of God. It will be painful. It hurts to have your rough edges brought out into plain sight. But the regenerate nature longs, with great intensity, to be brought into the full measure of the light of God. The Jesus-follower will simply follow their Lord – their Good Shepherd – wherever He would lead them. They will follow in sunshine and in rain. They will follow in joy and in pain. Will we? Will I? Will you? If I am a disciple – if I am a Jesus-follower – I will.
Sorrow and love flow mingled down in the peace of the believer’s life. The Jesus-follower’s life is a meld of grief and joy. The peace of God reconciles both agony and ecstasy. The world cannot so reconcile hurt and health (Php. 4:7). Theologian Joel Beeke excellently suggests that at the “core of true godliness is a heart set free by the power of His kingdom in order to seek after obedience to God’s laws with humility and love” (666). A heart at peace with God is freed. We are released to live life to the fullest in the saving knowledge of God through Jesus His Son. Though the peace is complex and multi-layered, it leaves us on an ultimately positive note.
“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.“
John 14:27
Holy Bible Holman Christian Standard Bible, Black/Burgundy, Leathertouch, Personal Size Bible. Holman Bible Pub, 2014.
As Jesus was preparing to depart from this world, He gave His disciples the gift of abiding peace. In this Scripture, we see Jesus fashioning tranquility with His grace. He notes the superiority of His gift. He notes the ultimate worth of His peace. He is the author of beautiful attitudes. He is the full embodiment of everything He calls His disciples to. It was the good pleasure of God to have all the beauty of heaven dwell in the body of Jesus (Col. 1:19-20).
God has made peace through Jesus. Jesus’ whole life is our peace. The Good News of Jesus is the peace in which we can abide. The peace Jesus leaves with us is His Good News. It may not go well for us in all material matters, but in the True reality that exists in Jesus and His Good News, there is much joy, much love and much peace. I cannot escape the imagery of C. S. Lewis in his works The Great Divorce and Miracles. Lewis proposed that there is a greater, brighter, denser and fairer reality on which this world was founded and now poorly mirrors. That reality brings overwhelming clarity to my faith and the peace of Jesus to my heart. It abides because it is the Truth of the Good News of Jesus.
“Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness – without it no one will see the Lord. Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many.”
Hebrews 12:14-15
Holy Bible Holman Christian Standard Bible, Black/Burgundy, Leathertouch, Personal Size Bible. Holman Bible Pub, 2014.
Peace is an activity. Peace is an endeavor. It demands our utmost and highest level of concentration and faithfulness. The author of Hebrews lets us in on the secret that we cannot separate our peace from holiness. Both are delivered to us through our experience of the Good News. Both peace and holiness are byproducts of God’s grace as it manifests itself in our lives through our connection to the God through His Gospel. As we read the Word, as we pray, as we repent and turn to God, as we participate in the community of fellow believers, peace and holiness show up in our lives and set us apart as lives re-purposed by God.
In that kind of living, we are let loose on the world to make disciples. We are called to call others. We are given peace to grant peace. If you follow Jesus, you are set free to fashion tranquility in all areas of faith and life. We are also freed to extend an invitation to others to participate in peace-making with us. We grant the grace of Jesus to others. Only in relationship with Jesus will this world be exponentially re-purposed and commissioned to glorify God on earth as He is in heaven. Through the peace of the Good News God has brought heaven and earth together. Now, let’s go create rest, fashion tranquility and make peace.
“Remember, God is as Great as He is Good!“
Noah R. Hunt
POIEMA: Created for Truth 