Do You Know the Peacemaker? – A Journey to the Heart of God
Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the sons of God. (Matthew 5:9 ESV)
Today is the DAY! Today is the day that I will go through the seventh red heart-shaped door – I have prayed about it for a couple of days now. I have so many emotions running through me this morning. I know that I have lived most of my life under the control of a man-made rule of peacemaking. It has been in the midst of chaotic controlling and manipulating. Sometimes I have been manipulated by others. And sometimes I have tried to manipulate others.
Can I honestly say that I have allowed “FEAR” to rule in my life long enough? For real! Enough!
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34 ESV)
These are words spoken by Jesus. Jesus did not say that this was his purpose for coming to earth to produce discord and contention and strife. Why? Jesus is the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 ESV)
What Jesus did say is that it would be one of the effects of his coming – there would be much striving – much chaos – much conflict.
What is a peacemaker? It is a person, group, or nation who actively work together to bring about peace and reconciliation where there is hatred and enmity against one another.
What does it look like for me to be known as a peacemaker? I must be willing to:
- Take a good hard look at myself.
- Allow God to test my heart.
- Bring quarrelsome people together.
- Be a reconciler to bring others back to God.
- Be conformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
- Glorify God at all costs.
- Spread the Gospel of Peace.
- Focus upon eternity and not temporal values.
We see conflict almost daily within our families, our churches and our communities. It is selfishness, rebellion, controlling, and manipulating that causes chaos and conflict in our daily living.
The Bible is a book about peace. There are nearly four hundred references to peace in its pages. The Bible opens and closes with peace with much war in between. There is much opposition from the Devil and also from disobedient people. God is not at war with the world, but the world is at war with God.
James 3:17-18 – “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (ESV)
I love this Scripture! Wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable. It is not possible to make peace when we are agitated, rebellious, or in a chaotic environment. Everyone involved must be willing to work from a peaceable environment in order to see peace become a reality in our lives. If we learn how to make peace, there will be a harvest of righteousness sown in that peace.
A little over a year ago, I took a course called “The Peacemaker.” It was an intense three day course from early morning until early evening in Billings, Montana. I was amazed at some of the stories that were related to me during the sessions about people who were willing to fight about anything and everything.
Some points that I took away from that course:
- Most people do not understand what Biblical peacemaking means.
- A majority of people have grown up in an atmosphere of either “flight or fight” when it comes to working on relationships.
- The world is full of selfish people – those who want to control and manipulate the lives of others.
- Peacemaking is an intentional relationship builder.
- I do not have to be an appeaser.
- I do not have to allow other people to walk all over me.
- Peaceableness is never to be a compact with sin or in alliance with evil.
- God’s peace and reconciliation builds healthy relationships.
I am ready to ascend the staircase that leads to the seventh red door. As I climb the stairs, I must be honest with you. As you seek to become a peacemaker, you will find that people will treat you just as Jesus was treated so many years ago as he walked this earth. You will be misunderstood. You will be criticized. You will be accused of being a troublemaker. You will be persecuted. Yes, it comes with a cost.
I stand at this red door and my hand is on the doorknob. I must admit that I am a little fearful. It’s fearful to think that I might be persecuted. I might be misunderstood. I might be criticized. I might be accused of being a troublemaker. I know that I can no longer avoid the battle; I must be willing to be a part of the ministry of reconciliation. My heart is pounding but I am excited to go through this door – the door of peace!
As I open the door, I take these words with me:
James 3:17-18 – “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (ESV)
I know that even though I may be in the midst of hatred and enmity, if I choose the wisdom from above because it is first pure and then peaceable, that I will see a harvest of righteousness that will be sown in peace by my decision to be a peacemaker.
Now, I share the last three verses with you from the Beatitudes. I know that Jesus wants us to understand that the journey will not always be an easy one:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12 ESV)
Heavenly Father, I thank you for the beautiful journey through these red heart-shaped doors. I have been blessed richly by reading your Word and faithfully opening each door along the journey. I honestly have a true hunger and thirst after righteousness for your sake. I know the journey is not an easy one. Your son, Jesus said that it would not be. I pray for others who are on the journey to the Heart of God too. Help each one of Your Children to get into your Word in this coming year and be willing to stand for Your Peace and Your Presence each day. Help us to remember to put on the full Armor of God and stand – then keep standing. May we become lovers of souls in this coming year. I love you Lord. I ask this in Jesus Christ’s name, amen.
PRESENT TIME:
It has been 2 years since I originally wrote this article.
I am at peace. I am ready to move forward in my destiny. I am ready to be used in the Kingdom of Heaven – to use my gifts and encourage others to use their.
I have spent much time alone with the Lord during this waiting time – training time.
As I look back, I realize that as soon as I wrote this article, the enemy was already at work. He was working in the hearts of those in my church. There were those who did not want to give up control – did not want to share Jesus with the community – there were those who did not want change. There were those who did not want to learn about peacemaking. And yet, there were some who were willing to move forward and surrender all in the name of Jesus.
I wanted to stand up and speak out – but I was in a room filled with people who were ready to fight – who were ready for flight – so I chose to remain silent. I think many others wanting to speak out too.
As I move forward today, I am no longer fearful of man. I can still walk in peace even though others around me choose not to.
And most importantly, it is okay to knock off the dust from your feet and leave the chaos and conflict. It is okay to walk out of town.
“And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.” – Matthew 10:14
It does not mean that you are not a peacemaker. A peacemaker follows the ways of the Lord. A peacemaker surrenders to the Lord.
As sad as it may be, sometimes you have to leave. Sometimes you have to part ways.
It is important to find a group of believers that are growing in the Lord – who are willing to be held accountable for their actions. When you do something wrong, admit it – repent – and move forward. Don’t get stuck in the muck. It does no one any good.
Revival is bursting forth across our nation. People are coming to the Lord. People are returning to the Lord. People are returning and repenting and lives are changing.
Remember the church where you attend is not your church. It doesn’t matter how long you have attended there – it is not your church. It is the Lord’s church. Don’t keep the doors to your heart locked and unwilling to accept others that the Lord sends your way.
Be willing to change. Be willing to walk through the doors of change – the Beatitudes are more than words – it is a willingness to change your life. Be willing to walk through all the red doors.
MY SONG: This is one that I had not heard before. But the words are precious. It is an older song -one that was missed. Listen to the words. Let’s pray for this generation. Lets be willing to be a part of the blessing and not a part of the mess.
Butterfly Dreams and Visions 