A letter to peacemakers

As I sit and stare at the Sea of Galilee, I hear the Beatitudes read. Jesus would have given this, His first sermon, from a nearby hillside. I think of you, the peacemakers. For one speaks to me most clearly today: 

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons and daughters of God.” (Matthew 5:9) Oh, all are given as blessings to us from our Abundant God and Father through His Son, Jesus, but this one. This one. It makes me think of you. 

The ones who must not stay silent, but speak of peace as the answer to the problem. The ones who intervene on someone’s behalf. The ones who stand up for another, come to their aid, lend a helping hand. 

And in this day and time, we need you, the peacemakers, more than ever. How do you know if you’re one? You call God your Father and come to Him as such. You know Him as the Source of peace and and He’s Who you call upon when peace is lacking. When fear ramps up. When anxiety and worry grab your soul and try to wreck havoc. When a pandemic of coronavirus spreads. When the future is uncertain, let alone the next hour. You are the peacemakers. You are the conduit through which His peace flows to this world. You make space for peace. And the power of God’s peace is that it flows beyond you to others. The moment it gets lodged, it ceases being peace and takes on the form of pride. As if peace were only to bless the one. 

Rather, peace flows like a river, branching off to form multiple streams of His living water available to all who will call Him Abba Father. Therein lies the blessing. 

I want to leave you with this new insight I’ve learned about peace. May I? The word shalom speaks “peace,” “hello,” and “goodbye” in the Jewish culture today and back then. When you say, shalom shalom, it speaks of God’s everlasting peace. This word has such depth for its root is completeness, wholeness, harmony, and fulfillment. This peace that Jesus spoke of in His first sermon is the same peace in 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” Whose heart is shalom!

You, peacemakers, the Lord is looking for more of us who will come to Him for His peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7) Let’s spread peace in our homes, conversations, and around town so others will become peacemakers too. 

A fellow peacemaker,

Shauna 

P.S. A few more verses to encourage you today: 

“And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:18)

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; san so we are.” (1 John 3:1)

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons and daughters of God.” (Romans 8:14)

(Facts shared come from the Scriptures and from the tour with Insight for Living Ministries. Imagination from my own heart.)