Peacemakers are those who have peace and are proactive in helping those who do not have peace. The Greek word Jesus used is
eirenopoios, which is the same word used in
Colossians 1:20 that we looked at yesterday. It is a compound Greek word from
eirene, which means peace, prosperity, one, quietness, and rest, plus the word
poieo, which means to do or make. The word connotes harmony and tranquility. The way I remembered the Greek word in school was, it sounds like Iran, a country in great need of Jesus, and peace! The word in the Old Testament that correlates with this word is shalom. It means peace, complete, and whole. One of the Hebrew names for God is Jehovah Shalom, the LORD is peace.
The primary peace that this person enjoys is peace with God, and the main objective of the one living in peace is for others to experience this peace. I came across some wonderful verses in the Bible that speak about the God of peace. Note in each of these 3 verses how the God of peace desires to bless us with all spiritual blessings through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Romans 16:20:
"And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24:
"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." Hebrews 13:20-21:
"Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
To bring about lasting peace as a peacemaker, you must first experience peace with God through Jesus Christ in salvation. John Piper states: "In other words, even though by nature we are rebels against God and have committed high treason and are worthy to be eternally court-marshaled and hanged by the neck until dead, nevertheless God has sacrificed his own Son and now declares amnesty free and clear to any who will lay down their arms of independence and come home to faith." (
Source.)
Once a person is reconciled to God and at peace with Him, how does he or she help bring about peace to others? The greatest way to help foster peace for others is by introducing them to the Prince of Peace: Jesus Christ. That is the grand privilege and responsibility of those who know Christ and who desire to be peacemakers. There are times in my witnessing to people when I tell them I am a follower of Jesus and one of my main objectives in life is to connect people to God.
How well are you doing in being a peacemaker?
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