HIS PEACEMAKER

Keeping in line with being imitators of Christ - peacemaking has been on the decline from what I have observed. Being a peaceful person, having a peaceful demeanor and speaking peace into all situations, especially potentially explosive ones, is desperately needed.

Observing the Scripture, I found it interesting that to begin Christ's life, the angels declared to the shepherds in a nearby field - 

• “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” - Luke 2:14

Notice that the proclamation states that the peace is "to those on whom his favor rests". This is key in understanding this subject in Scripture. Said another way - No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace. Later on in the life and ministry of Jesus, Christ says this about peace -

• “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’" - Matthew 10:34-36

Christ knew that the determining factor of many relationships in history would come down to how they handled - What do we do with Jesus? There are probably many family relationships that are functionable without Jesus. But Christ came to give us more than just a functional life. Jesus came and gave us life and life more abundantly (John 10:10). Jesus also knew the reward for accepting "the sword".

"The Sword" that the Lord mentions as bringing instead of peace is a two-purposed sword. The first purpose of the sword is a piercing of the Lord's Word into our hearts for the possible changing of them.  The second purpose of the sword is to battle with His Word in circumstances of life, once you accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior. Again, Christ knew families would be divided over Him, but He also knew the reward - eternity with Him and eternal blessedness in Heaven.

There is a prophetic verse in Isaiah 9:6 that speaks about Christ's First and Second coming in one pass -

• "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

The first part of this verse pertains to Christ's first visit - "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,". The rest of the verse has not been fully recognized Yet! - "...and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Many Christians will admit that Christ's title of Prince of Peace is at work in their lives today. I agree, Jesus, by the power of His Holy Spirit is that for me also. However, the entire world will know Jesus as The Prince of Peace one day and we simply have not arrived there....yet.

Until the world sees the One True King and Prince of Peace seated upon the throne of this world, we must be His Peacemakers. I see this peaceful deliberation especially played out when we, as Christians, go to witness to unbelievers. One of my favorite passages in the Bible spells this out nicely -

• "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." - 1 Peter 3:15-16

Peter places the emphasis in this passage on "always being prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.", but he waits till the last of this passage to tell you why - "so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." Sandwiched in-between there nicely is my encouragement to us all, how to go about doing this - "But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience". To me this screams of a Peacemaker. This resembles a person who has control of their thoughts, words and actions with the help of the Holy Spirit. This is a person who pauses before speaking or acting, consults God quickly and then moves on God's advice. This is a Believer who exudes peace when arguments come in opposition to declaring for faith in Christ Jesus. With God being a person of order, the Holy Spirit as your guide and the charge to witness/testify for Him - you can be sure His mind is on us being His Peacemaker.