Matthew 5:9

Matt 5:9 – Blessed are the peacemakers for they should be called children of God

Barnes – Those who strive to prevent contention, strife, and war; who use their influence to reconcile opposing parties, and to prevent lawsuits and hostilities in families and neighborhoods.

1 Cor 14:33 – For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace

Want to be a Peacemaker?

Being a Peacemaker requires a few things

1. AVOID CARELESS CONFRONTATION – Some people just love to make trouble
   • we have to learn not to speak unless necessary – EVEN WHEN WE ARE RIGHT – not every thing deserves rebuttal or correction
     • if we want to be happy we have to learn to master our mouths…
     • we have to learn to be thoughtful – what is important?  what is WORTH my emotion, my words, my actions
   • refuse to live in the echo chamber of outrage – that might mean staying OFF Facebook completely lol
   • We have to learn to be the bigger person!  Just because we have been offended does not mean we need to rise to action.
   • The person we are to make peace with might just be a person who wishes to attack us – to make peace we must choose not to fight back.
     • Luke 6:27-28 27“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunicb either. 30Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.
   • This is what flows out of a deep rock bottom level of spiritual poverty – we deserve nothing SO WE DEMAND NOTHING
     • It is impossible to argue with someone who only wants what is best for you!
2. Embrace Loving confrontation
   • Confrontation is necessary for a peacemaker – you cannot make peace by ignoring the truth.
   • HOWEVER if we confront in an inappropriate way we will NOT be peacemakers either
   • BEFORE YOU SPEAK ask yourself –
     • Is what I am about to say motivated by my love for this person?
     • Is what I am about to say worded in the kindest way?
     • Am I being mindful of my tone, body posture, facial expression?
     • Is what I am about to say a necessary and helpful statement?
     • God gave us two ears and one mouth to teach us to listen twice as much as we talk.
   • Sometimes Peacemaking requires that WE bear the cost of the crimes of others
3. We live this way because Jesus lives this way FOR US
   • Give to those that do not deserve it
   • Pay for the offenses that have been done against us
   • Jesus made the greatest peace by taking in all our violence and giving us love.

The prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy,

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

All Quoted from Fremont Community Church website

Now here is another to question: Why are we not more compassionate? Pizzled?