Are you a Peace Keeper or Peace Maker?

Matthew 5:9 says "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God."

I was listening to Beth Moore the other day and she asked this question - "Are you a peace keeper or a peacemaker?"

I had to really ponder that thought. She said - "Our sinful nature resists peace - we naturally hate, slander, have jealousy, fits of rage and selfish ambition according to Galatians 5:20." So we cannot blame everything on the enemy - we are all capable of these heineous sins.

But how do you pursue peace? Do you try to cover issues over and "keep peace" even though underneath you are simmering and angry? Or do you resolve issues by apologizing or forgiving your offender to "make peace"?

You see - one is from God and the other is not. If you are a "peace keeper" then you have false peace. Jeremiah 8:11 says "They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. "Peace peace," they say, when there is no peace." If you spend your life being a "peace keeper" - you are just putting bandaids on situations that require surgery. You are creating a false peace and a wound that is festering.

You may have someone that you fear and it seems better to just "keep peace" rather than rock the boat by attempting to resolve a conflict - but this fear keeps you in turmoil and you cannot live in peace. So today - I challenge you to be a "peacemaker". Romans 12 gives us a play by play manual on how to be a "peacemaker"- it says in verses 17-21:

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Be a "peacemaker" today and you will be blessed. Matthew 5:9 promises - "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God."

Walk with the King!

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