By: Undre Griggs, Jr You ever think what it takes to be a peacemaker? When you do, you start to appreciate and understand why peacemakers are blessed. Matthew 5:9 (ESV): “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. The peacemakers play an active role in making peace with others. They are forgiving, kind, and gentle with the ungrateful and deplorable. When you can consider others greater than yourself, you will find it easier to forgive and treat others with kindness. The peacemakers have the ability to look someone filled with bitterness, envy, and anger in the face and tell them - you are my brethren. Luke 6:27-31 (ESV): “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. To be at peace, requires a willingness to show mercy to others. I often think of this like gang violence. Retaliating against someone who wronged you will only create more violence. Reason being, as soon as one gang retaliates, the other now believes it has the right to retaliate. The only way for violence to end is for someone to decide he or she will not retaliate. When you do not blow your horn when someone cuts you off, the chance of road-rage occurring is eliminated. Like the other blessings we discussed in previous weeks, they have a heavenly and an earthly component. Luke 6:35-36 (ESV): But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Jesus reiterates the ability to be a peacemaker, to show mercy to the ungrateful and evil will entitle you to the honor of being a son of the Most High. We are empowered to be merciful with others because God is merciful with us. We are ungrateful and evil in our right. We all share the responsibly that required Jesus to die on the cross. It is His death and resurrection, His example, and the Father’s mercy that provides us the opportunity to be sons of the Most High. As much as it depends on you, make sure you are maker of peace with all: the evil and the righteous, the grateful and the ungrateful, as well as the benevolent and the vindictive. Not because you are condoning their actions, but because your kindness and obedience to the will of God may save their soul.
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