Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

– Matthew 5:9

As a child of God your very nature is to be a peacemaker.

A peacemaker is one who brings others together or who comes closer to others in a spirit of reconciliation, willing to risk being hurt in order to be near people.

It isn’t just staying out of trouble or helping others stay out of trouble. It isn’t about making lines of demarcation to separate opposite sides.

Rather, it’s an active way of life that, because it is so distinctive, it’s very visible to the world. Jesus calls this the blessing of the Christian. The peacemaker works toward peace at home, in the church, with neighbors, and throughout the world.

How does one become a peacemaker?

Where do you get the attitude, the driving concern that makes this not a burden that’s been dropped on you, but something that is growing from inside you?

You get this kind of heart through faith.

The heart is cleansed by faith.

You have seen what Christ has done on the cross, and having seen the sacrifice for you, you believed it.

You were cleansed form your sin: hypocrisy, envy, and selfishness were swept out of you by the blood of the Lamb.

Because of this, you see that if Jesus brought you to peace, then everyone you meet could be a prospect for his peace program.

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This excerpt is taken from Saving Grace a year-long devotional book based on material from Jack Miller’s sermons. May not be reproduced without the express written permission of New Growth Press. Used by permission of New Growth Press.