We continue a series of messages from the Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
We live in a world where people work and pray for the blessings of wealth, happiness, egos, victory, strength, getting more than anyone else, popularity, and power, But as He always did, Jesus turns all that kind of logic upside-down in the beatitudes. When He gave the sermon on the mount, He was talking not to people that live in a Christian environment, or a democracy with freedoms and protections, such as we have. No, His audience were people already suffering under the Roman Empire, and the same folks who would suffer even more, after He was crucified, for failing to disavow Him. Even their own families would reject them for holding onto their faith, and yet through all of this, Jesus told them to hold on—-that there reward would more than compensate for their pain and broken hearts. Every one of the Beatitudes have good endings! So do you believe Jesus was telling the truth, or not?
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9, NIV). Did you get that? Their reward is that they will become the very children of God. Now, is there any greater reward you could receive? This past week my youngest, Tyler, has spent a week with a friend who warned me that she was going to spoil him. She took him to the pool at her club, took him shopping for new clothes, bought him a nice watch, a new set of head-phones, energy drinks, fast food at restaurants, a maid to make us his bed and make him feel like a little prince. He no longer calls her by her name, he calls her grandmother! He has adopted her!
But as satisfying as that is to Tyler, can you begin to imagine what it’s like when God adopts you? Is there any good thing He will deny those that are His children? But that’s what we show ourselves to be when we accept His call to be peacemakers—-we are living like true sons and daughters of the Most High—-and He is so proud of us!!!
Today, ask yourself this question: Are you a peacemaker or war-maker? Do you bring about a cessation of hostilities, or do you add fuel to the fire? Connected to that question is this: Are you a listener or a lecturer? When you enter into a conversation is it to spread peace, or disharmony?
Yes, we need peacemakers——in the pulpit—-and in the pew—in our political arenas. We need peace, not the U.N type that simply calls for a cessation of hostilities. The followers of Jesus have been called to make peace. But you really can’t make the peace, the kind of which He was referring, unless you know Him. When He calls us, we have found peace, for He is our peace! If you find a pastor, a deacon, or fellow believer that is not a peace-maker, that man or woman is simply NOT following Jesus Christ.
Followers of Jesus must not only have peace but make it. That’s what He clearly says in the beatitudes! And to that end we must renounce violence, insults, name calling, threats and malice. In the cause of Christ nothing is to be gained by such methods—but I have seen some of those methods attempted even in this church—-and every church I have attended for any extended amount of time. God’s kingdom, and His children, are ones of peace. Jesus’ true disciples keep the peace by choosing to endure insults and suffering themselves rather than inflict it on others. They maintain fellowship and keep coming to church where others would break it off. They renounce all self-assertion, and quietly suffer in the face of hatred and wrong. And in doing this they overcome evil with good, and are a witness to others of the true peace of God. But nowhere will that peace be more magnificently manifested than where they meet the wicked and mean in peace and are ready to suffer at their hands. The peacemakers will carry the cross with their Lord, for it was on the cross that peace was made. Now that they are partners in Christ’s work of reconciliation, they are called the sons, or daughters, of God….just as He is the Son of God.
The Bible does not prioritize the same sins a lot of pastors target. Extra marital sex is a sin, so is drunkenness and using bad language. But the big sin is pride. Prideful people stir up trouble, not peace, and they are terrible! They don’t take an interest in you, they don’t hear you out, they misunderstand you, and they weaponize your words against you. Humble people take interest in you, they do hear you out, they take time to understand you, and they protect your words.
Humble people are described in the Bible as counting others as more significant than themselves (Phil. 2:3), preferring other people’s interests (Phil. 2:4), as submissive to God (James 4:10), and as gentle (Eph. 4:2). Humble people are truly a joy to interact with because they usher in peace, and we feel good about ourselves when we talk to them. We feel honored that they want to serve with us. They listen and talk with us as if we were important.
It should be no surprise that where the antithesis of humility—self-ambition—exists there is “disorder and every vile practice” (James 3:16). Self-ambition is the dynamite to peace: It destroys peace and makes a mess of everything. Selfish ambition brings conflict and anarchy. Selfish ambition leaves in its wake conflict; humility leaves in its wake peace “and a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:18).
But a peacemaker is a person that restores peace between people. Peacemakers help facilitate the peace of God in relationships. Where chaos and quarreling exist, peacemakers bring quiet and clarity.
An old proverb once said, “there is none so deaf as those who won’t hear.” And prideful people will not hear. They do not want to hear about what they could improve, they do not want to evaluate how they could change. To use Jesus’s words, they will not “remove the log.” Conversely, humble people will promote peace because they are willing to remove the log or consider if there is a log.
That’s why it is essential and foundational to be humble if you would be a peacemaker. You are willing to listen and understand. You see people more as He sees people and realizes that all men and women are fractured creatures. You ask so that you might understand them … you listen … you understand. Prideful people do not do this because they ultimately don’t care. They are not interested; they have their own agenda. But peacemakers take a real interest in what you say to them. We can disagree, while completely understanding each other, and still be at peace with each other on matters of preference. That’s what it looks like to be a peacemaker.
As we look for a new pastor, be humble and work on your listening skills when you meet him—and expect the same from him. When you write-off what another person is going to say, before they have said it, that’s not being a peacemaker—your sowing seeds of war. When you put a person into a certain category, without hearing them out, you’re not being a peacemaker. Or when you have a response already on your lips before you have listened, there’s no hope for peace. Peace making, as opposed to trouble-making, propels us to listen to others. And when we listen to others with understanding, we find less discord and more peace.
It’s not probably politically correct to tell a man to “be a man”, or for a woman to “be a woman”, things are rather blurry in the minds of many. This past week Delta removed all the banners that said, “welcome ladies and gentlemen”, because it offended that don’t call themselves ladies or gentlemen. But I of the opinion that men and women are fundamentally different—and for good reasons—-and I celebrate the differences. But for those of us who are male, the beatitudes don’t fit the common idea of masculinity or of being “macho”. My generation grew up with movie stars like John Wayne, Johnny Weissmuller, Humphrey Bogart, Clint Eastwood, and other men that portrayed toughness, courage, and a willingness to “go it alone”, if needed.
But the beatitudes are not about being a “tough guy”, at least not externally. Jesus taught us that God’s grace and power is revealed in weaknesses, and the most important thing any man can do is the simple choice of following Jesus. In doing so, we receive the gift of God’s grace, which means our sins are forgiven and our place in heaven is guaranteed.
Which brings us to the second point: the most powerful, intelligent, blessed man to ever walk on this earth was also the consummate peace maker—and totally perfect. It was Jesus. This is the good news and He’s the hero! Mankind has been fighting a rebellion against God that we cannot possibly win. The leader of this fallen world is the prince of darkness—Satan, Lucifer, the Devil. But he cannot prevail against God Almighty. But because men are so ‘macho”, stupid or just too plain weak to give up their arms, God sent His Son to pay all the reparations and penalties of our long war with God. God does not ask that we make amends for our rebellion—-all we must do is accept the payment that has been made by the Prince of Peace. If we attempt to surrender under any other banner, we’re first obligated to pay for all damages and compensate our Creator…and we simply can never repay it—-ever. “He paid a debt He did not owe, I had a debt I could not pay, Christ bled and died to took my debt away”.
Friends, the greatest peacemaker of eternity is Jesus Christ. The same One that is called the Prince of Peace. But understand this: He did not come to negotiate a peace with God—as if you and I have to right to discuss terms of an armistice or cease fire! No, we have been at war with God since man first walked on the earth. We’ve rebelled against God’s intentions and directions and have told God that we don’t care about His opinion or expectations; yes, we’ve basically taken up hostilities against God. How foolhardy—it’s a war we can never, ever win. And the only way there can be peace during a war is for one of the warring parties to surrender. That’s what is required for me to have peace with God, and that’s what I must teach and proclaim to any camper, staff or person in a church that wants peace: You must surrender to God.
Fortunately, our God is not vengeful….nor does He choose to humiliate us if we surrender. Quite the opposite—He not only establishes peace in our hearts and souls—He paid the cost.
How can there be peace on earth? Only when those of us at war with Him seek His Beloved Son by laying down our arms and declaring that He is Lord. And what does He give us? Infinitely more than we could ever hope to gain from a war that (were it possible) over-powered Him! He declares us, the very ones who were formerly His enemies, as His sons and daughters—His own children.
The kingdom of darkness and Hell quakes and shakes each time a boy, girl, man or woman sues for surrender and accepts God’s terms for peace. Surrendering is simply a confession of our rebellion and an acknowledgement that all reparations have been paid by God’s own Son on the cross of Calvary.
What an incredible ending to a fruitless war! We surrender to God, God pays the price for the war, and He makes us into joint heirs, sons and daughters, in His Kingdom.
In 1836 Colt firearms created a pistol that could fire multiple times and anyone of any size could wield the weapon. At this point smaller men and women could defend themselves from large strong aggressive attacks. Thus the firearm ensured a peaceful society. As it was said at the time.
The called the pistol a “peacemaker”. But that’s what you and I are, if Christ reigns in our hearts!
We’re able to bring about peace with people more numerous, more powerful or larger and smarter than us.
Be a peacemaker—surrender to the Prince of Peace if you have not done so yet.
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