Are You A P-E-A-C-E-M-A-K-E-R ?

Psalm 120:5-7 -  Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!  Too long have I lived among those who hate peace.  I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war.

 

This anonymous Psalm may have been written by Hezekiah.  His words were few….but they contain a powerful message. Even if the world around us is fighting…we need to hold out for peace. Instead of playing into the hands of satan…and fighting…he prayed to God to give him some added strength to hold out for peace.

 

I admit that it is hard to maintain the same kind of attitude about peace.  We read more than one news story every day that show that most people opt for fighting instead of working toward peace. But we only have to look a bit deeper in the new testament to find many scriptures that tell us Hezekiah’s attitude was right in keeping with what Jesus would teach when God sent him to earth.

 

Jesus preached a powerful sermon in Mathew 5….but verse 9 spoke of the need for all of us to be peacemakers.  It says… “ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”  And when it was time for Jesus to join his father in heaven he told the disciples that he was leaving them a precious present. John 14:27 recorded his last words to the disciples before he transfigured to the father…. “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 must have understood that this gift of peace wasn’t just for the ones that watched him ascend that day.  This gift of peace was meant for all who decided to believe in the son of God. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:7-9  …. “ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  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.  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.”

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I am to be a peacemaker to all that you let cross my path…even when it is hard. Forgive me for the times that I have not used the peace you meant to calm and comfort me in a way that sent the wrong message to those you are trying to save. Help me to embody the words of Jesus your son…and be a true peacemaker….holding tightly to the peace that passes all understanding in my own heart…so I can model for others how to live in the true peace that God intended from the start.  Amen.