Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Matt. 5:9).

Jesus taught during the time of the Pax Romana, the ‘Peace of Rome.’ In practice, the Pax Romana was terrifying news to the newly conquered. However, the Good News of Jesus Christ cannot be compared with the Pax Romana, for it includes the announcement of the peace of God to all who receive it. “As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let you peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you” (Matt. 10:12, 13).

To be Christ-like means to be a peacemaker. Jesus left clear instructions for how to live as peacemakers. Firstly, He commanded us to remove causes for stumbling among ourselves (Matt 18:6, 7). Followers of Jesus are to be aware of causes for stumbling and to voluntarily hold back from that which would cause younger disciples a crisis of faith. Secondly, we are to actively work for peace. If there is a controversy, the offended party is to seek out the offending party and work for reconciliation (Matt. 18:15-20).

What are the implications of this Beatitude for us today? Firstly, Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). In the time of the disciples, Jesus made it plain that those homes or communities that rejected Him would also reject the peace of God (Matt. 10:12-15). And in rejecting the peace of God, they would become subject to whatever the dominant political forces would impose on them. Today, AFM missionaries serve in communities experiencing the suffering that comes wherever the Prince of Peace is not honored. Please pray that in each of their ministries, the Prince of Peace will be lifted high, and local communities will experience God’s peace.

Secondly, an African proverb says, “When elephants fight, the grass is trampled.” When spiritual leaders choose not to work for peace but prefer to fight among themselves, the young in faith become discouraged and fall away. Please pray that the new communities of faith where our AFM missionaries are serving will be havens of heavenly peace for the newly converted.

And finally, peacemaking may involve self-sacrifice and unjust treatment for the peacemaker. Paul wrote about Christ bringing peace between Jews and Gentiles, “For He is our peace; in His flesh He has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us” (Eph. 2:14). Our striving for peace today often involves someone else sacrificing or apologizing or losing face in public while we seek to come out of the process with social esteem and honor. Yet, our peace with God came through the self-sacrifice of Jesus. Therefore, to be a Christ-like peacemaker involves a willingness to be personally hurt or humbled in order that the community as a whole might experience peace. My prayer today is that the Prince of Peace will manifest Himself in a beautiful and powerful way in all aspects of our lives and ministry!

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