The Peacemaker:
The God of Peace and the Peace of God
Mark Christian
Matthew 5:9 (NIV)
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
In the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus lists several characteristics of His true disciples. One of those characteristics is being a “peacemaker”.
Over the next few weeks, we will examine several aspects of being a “peacemaker” and how our lives should reflect our desire to please God by living in peace. As I began planning these lessons, I thought it most appropriate that we begin not with how to be A peacemaker, but instead with THE Peacemaker.
Our God is a God of Peace
Our God is a God of Peace. He desires peace with man. Just as any father would want a true peace in his relationship with his children, our God wants peace in His relationship with us. In any family, there will be some discord and disagreement from time to time. In our family, sometimes the kids get out of line, and there seems to be a strain in the relationship between me and them. More often, I get out of line and put that strain there. They and I would far rather be at peace with one another, but because we sometimes seek our own selfish desires instead of seeking peace with one another, we forfeit the peace that we could have.
Unlike me or any of us, God is a perfect Father. He always wants us to be at peace with Him, and never does He act selfishly. But our God is holy, and there can be no peace between the holy and the unclean. Because of this disparity between Him and us, He has done everything to enable us to be at peace with Him. All He asks is that we obey Him.
Turn with me to Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Paul’s standard greeting for his epistles was so much more than a simple, “Dear Philippians, how are you…”
Philippians 1:1-2 (NIV)
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi,
together with the overseers and deacons:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul is sending a message of peace, but not just any peace! He is sending peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; real peace!
Paul continues in his letter, teaching them and us to imitate Christ.
Philippians 2:5 (NIV)
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
One of the keys understanding our relationship to God is in understanding that God wants us to obey Him not for His sake, but for ours. God loves us so much that He wants us to avoid the pitfalls and disappointments of this life. He knows that when we take on the attitude of Christ, we will be happy and satisfied. Our obedience to Him is to our great benefit in our lives today and forever.
I can remember my dad trying to explain to me that he wanted me to avoid the mistakes that he had made. He wanted me to do things the right way because it would make my life easier and I would be happier. This came from a father who, just like all of us, made his share of mistakes. Our Heavenly Father never made mistakes, but he knows us well. He knows our weaknesses and where we might stumble. He knows what tempts us, and He wants us to avoid that temptation. Our God is a God of Peace, and wants us to enjoy peace, but that peace comes out of obedience to His will.
Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Do God’s will, and He, the God of Peace will be with you.
Have you ever had to go somewhere you really didn’t want to go? Maybe it was to see someone you really didn’t want to see because you knew there would be trouble. Maybe you didn’t want to go because you had never been there before and didn’t know what to expect. Maybe it was some place that just looked creepy. If you have ever had to go somewhere like this alone, wouldn’t it have been better to have had a friend go with you?
You know, we are strangers here. This is not our home. But while we live and breathe the air here isn’t it great to know that the God of Peace will be with us. When we go into uncharted waters, we can be assured that if we practice God’s will in our lives, He goes with us.
We can enjoy the peace of God
I firmly believe that our God, the God of Peace intends for us to live our lives enjoying the peace of God. While Paul was in prison (for preaching the Gospel!), he was overflowing with the peace that could only come from God.
Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
In another of his epistles from prison, Paul writes about the peace of Christ.
Colossians 3:15 (NIV)
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Jesus also spoke of His peace, the peace of God.
John 14:25-27 (NIV)
25 "All this I have spoken while still with you.
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Paul writes that we were called to peace. It is as if peace were the destination. Jesus says that he gives us His peace. The important thing to recognize is that we cannot generate the peace. The peace is from God. The peace is from Christ. For us to enjoy the peace of God, He must provide it. Remember, He is holy and we were unclean.
God has provided the path to peace
Isaiah 53:1-12 (NIV)
1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
I don’t know that any of us will ever fully grasp what a great feat was accomplished on the cross and in the resurrection. On the cross, Jesus reconciled us to God. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. He took what we deserved upon Himself, and in return gave us a relationship in which we can be at peace with Holy God.
As I said earlier, over the next few weeks, we will be looking at what it means for us to be peacemakers, but it must start right here. It must start with THE Peacemaker; Jesus. He bore our sins and made peace for us. He reconciled us to God.
(prayer)
Are you at peace with God? Have you accepted His gracious offer of reconciliation to Him? If not, then why not do so now?
