Stay Salty: Peace-Making
Stay Salty: Peace-Making
How can we stay distinct yet remain engaged? How can we stand with courage and reach out with compassion? Let's be peacemakers.
So much of what Jesus taught seems to transcend the confines of logic. How can we be “in” the world and not “of” the world? How can we find life by dying? How can we hate sin enough to gouge out our eye and still love ourselves?
Of course, there are answers for these things. Jesus loved to create tensions to lead us into truth: We can only do these things if we experience experience enlightenment, a miraculous change of heart, and are empowered with the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus was. Only by being transformed into His likeness would we be able to live Kingdom lives.
So, how can we live in this world, here and now, today? We live in a time that requires Kingdom Christians to stand firm, speak up, and never surrender Truth, however much it is characterized as hate. At the same time, our very lives are meant to be bridges of reconciliation, leading others into the Kingdom.
How can we be salt and light?
In the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-10, Luke 6:20-23), Jesus laid out the very characteristics that will answer that question. Each is a statement that reveals the mystery of Kingdom citizenship in a dying world. Each answers the question, “How shall we then live?”
In Matthew 5:9 (NIV), Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” The original Greek says peacemakers will be called huios (lit. “sons”). The translators, in an effort to match modern English, use the word “children” rather than “sons” because Jesus was not suggesting only males would be blessed, but that both men and women would be known as God’s children.
However, this translation, while helpfully connecting with modern readers, could obscure an important insight: Jesus Himself was God’s Huios. The Huios of God is letting us know that we are His presence in the world when we make peace.
A few thoughts on being a peacemaker:
WE CAN’T GIVE WHAT WE DON’T HAVE: If we’re not at peace, it will be difficult to mediate peace in any situation. There is nothing shameful about acknowledging the things we’re feeling. Anxiety. Worry. Fear. Anger. These emotions are clues that indicate whether we’re living out of our true place in God’s Kingdom. When peace is not flowing, we simply need to reconnect with the Prince of Peace. He loves it when we do that.
PEACE FLOWS OUT OF CONNECTION: Only as we spend time in the “secret place” will we receive the identity, assurance and spiritual fortitude to be peacemakers in stressful situations. Time in the Father’s presence changes our identity because we become what we behold. Each day is an opportunity to continuously abide.
“PEACEMAKER” IS AN IDENTITY TO EMBRACE: Being a peacemaker is not a task the Lord lays on our shoulders. It is an identity He speaks over us. When we, by faith, embrace our place in Christ, this identity is lived out through the Holy Spirit’s power.
DECLARATION IS POWERFUL: We are all facing situations that require us to be peacemakers. Rather than throwing gas on a fire, we need to find creative ways to tamp it down. I would suggest learning the power of declaration. Declaration is a statement of identity, what is true of us in the spiritual realm. Our redeemed spirit is seated with Christ in God. Therefore, we are, spiritually speaking, who he is. When you face a situation of strife, simply declare, “I AM a peacemaker. I BRING the peace of heaven into this situation. In Jesus’ name, I carry the power and authority to BE a peacemaker.”
I close with this thought from Paul:
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:17-19, NKJV)