Our culture's idea of peace is but a shadow of God's peace. The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, does not mean merely the absence of war, but rather a total well-being of mind, heart, soul, and spirit. Shalom brings supernatural assurance in the midst of uncertainty and confusion.
Man's peace ceases hostility, but God's peace builds unity.
Peace of this kind, however, comes at a price. The price for our peace with God was Jesus' shed blood on the cross. Similarly, the price for our peace with others is often vulnerability, brokenness, and self-denial. If we are to be peacemakers, we must be willing to pay the price to build a bridge and seek reconciliation.
But peace at any price is not Biblical peace. Man's peace ceases hostility, but God's peace builds unity. Man's peace is a cold war, but God's peace is a warm friendship. Peacemakers must hold fast to God's Truth, remembering that pursuit of godly peace comes with a reward.
So, when people throw stones, pick them up and build a bridge. When they come at you with swords, disarm them with love and beat those swords into plowshares. In this way, you will reflect your heavenly Father's character, spread the Gospel of His peace, and show others that you are truly a child of God.
Prayer: God, may I seek peace in my relationships, my workplace, my neighborhood, my city. Help me to see ways to serve and bring restoration in Your name. May I keep in step with Your Spirit so that I can work with humility and gentleness, that people might see Your goodness at work in me and praise You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9).
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