Peacemaking

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

Matthew 5:9

PEACEMAKING IS A big issue in our world. In fact, one of the highest awards any human can receive is the Nobel Peace Prize, which gives recognition for work to make the world a better place in which to live.

Dissipating some of the strife in the world is not an easy thing to do. Just think how difficult it was for Henry Kissinger to achieve agreements among the enemies in Vietnam. Or consider how many times a president has attempted to reconcile the Jews and the Arabs. Think of how many wars have been fought to try to bring peace. This all shows that human peace is fragile and temporary.

In contrast, what is God’s award to people who help others work through differences of opinion, arguments, enmity, jealousy, and other problems? God says such people will be “called the children of God.” Earthly prizes for peace will eventually be destroyed, but God’s reward for peacemaking lives forever in our lives and in the lives of those we help.

Are you a peacemaker in your area of influence? Do your best to be one. It’s your role as a child of God in a strife-torn world.