1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian 8 - Blessed are the peacemakers | Page 3

Monday
Reading: Matthew 5 v 9 / John 14
I hope that this week’s devotionals will speak into your life in a meaningful and
significant way. I am convinced that the context into which Jesus spoke the words of
Matthew 5 are so apt to the situation in which we ourselves live. The subject on
Jesus’ heart as it relates to this verse is the subject of PEACE
PEACE.
I believe it to be true to say that the desire for peace is a universal phenomenon. I
am not sure that everyone desires for peace between men, but I am convinced that
there is, within each one, of us a cry from our hearts for peace with God. Religion as
a whole has capitalised on this need. If you look across the religions of the world
every religion promises it. If you are a Hindu, then peace is found in self-discipline
that will lead you to karma. If you are a Muslim, peace would be found in making a
journey to mecca. If you are a Rastafarian, peace would be found in smoking another
joint and not bothering to wash your hair! The general truth would appear to be that
peace is something that is worked for, strived for and sacrificed for. The Christian
faith is the only faith where peace is offered.
In John 14 Jesus said to His disciples, amidst all of their anxieties, “Peace I leave
with you, my peace I give to you…”
It is this “peace” that we will be studying this week, and from this basis of peace
with God, we will talk about having peace with man. You see, in order to be a
peacemaker, you first have to be a recipient of personal peace. That means that,
before you start making peace with men, you may need to make peace with God. We
will also seek, in this week’s study, to understand the fact that even though you can
have peace with God, you may not still have the peace of God. I find it rather
disconcerting, as I associate with Christians, to find how many of them, even though
they know that their sins are forgiven and they have peace with God, are still
disturbed in their spirits and anxious in their thoughts and very obviously, do not
have the peace of God.
When I think of peace with God, my mind goes to the Garden of Eden where man
and God walked together in daily fellowship through that peaceful garden. There
was no antagonism, there were no hidden agendas, there was just glorious
fellowship. Sadly, as a result of the sin of Adam and Eve, the peace was shattered
and Satan brought enmity between God and man. Man, in his desire for
independence, went in the face of God’s laws and ever since then, a war has existed
between God and man. God’s desire for peace was greater than ours and God came
up with a “peace-plan”. The peace-plan was inarguably the most radical peaceinitiative ever embarked upon. God’s plan involved the shedding of blood; not the