Conflict usually arises when we are disobedient to God. 1 Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? 2 You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet[a] something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, “God[b] yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? (Jm 4: 1-5 NewRSV)

We live in a world that is filled with conflict, but God is calling us to be peacemakers. The word of God states, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Mt 5:9). In other words, “Cursed are the troublemakers, for they will be called the children of the devil”. We have a choice to be blessed or cursed, to be peacemakers or troublemakers, to be called children of God or children of the devil.           

We, who are in Jesus Christ, are called to be peacemakers. We are called to a ministry of reconciliation. 17 If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:17-19).

Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. Without Jesus, there is no peace. Therefore, the world does not truly have peace or know peace. We must be reconciled with Jesus to have peace. Sin hinders us from having peace and becoming peacemakers. The essential criteria required to be a peacemaker; is to have a pure and clean heart, one must be righteous and holy. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Heb 12:14). Even when you strive to be at peace with everyone, others may not want to be at peace with you. Therefore, the word of God says that, If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (Rom 12:18). God holds us accountable only for our actions, not for the wrongdoings of others. Therefore, instead of focusing on what everyone else is up to, we need to focus on becoming peacemakers.

Is your life filled with conflicts or do you strive to be a peacemaker? A peacemaker is not a person that goes around pleasing and agreeing with everyone. A person who tries to please and agree with everyone, is a person with no character. Diplomacy and tact will keep you out of trouble, but a peacemaker needs to have courage to face the difficulties for the greater good. If Jesus Christ would have acted with diplomacy and tact, He would have never got himself crucified nor would there be salvation to all mankind. A peacemaker always pays the price. A peacemaker is someone who agrees and stands for righteousness, justice, mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation. The role of a peacemaker is to resolve conflict between adversaries, to correct the offender and console the oppressor. If you are a peacemaker, you are bound to rock the boat, ruffle some feathers, bound to displease some people, bound to make enemies, bound to be misunderstood and bound to be persecuted. You probably may not even get nominated for a Nobel peace prize either. However, a peacemaker is blessed by God, as the very likeness of God dwells within this person and God calls them His children. You become a peacemaker when you profess the gospel of peace to others.

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