Bret Hammond15 Mai 2022

Blessed are the Peacemakers; James 3:13-18

I begin every morning by asking Siri to tell me the news, and every news report begins with the war in Ukraine. I hear of attacks on "humanitarian corridors," peace talks that never produce fruit, the bombing of civilians, and sanctions that seem to move too slowly. I wish I could tell you that I follow every news report with a time of prayer on my knees, but I confess that many times I shake my head and wonder when it will all be over. And then I come to Jesus' words, "Blessed are the peacemakers." As I hear Jesus, I realize if I'm looking for peacemakers in embassies and bunkers, I'm looking in the wrong places. So instead, I look to the families caring for enemy soldiers, giving them water and food, and letting them use their cellphones to call home. Peacemaking doesn't happen between nations, but one-on-one, friend-to-friend, as we display the image of God for those who would be our enemies and seek His image in the same. None of this is easy, of course, and there are mornings when the news leaves me feeling less than charitable. But, nothing Jesus says should make us think it's an easy blessing. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." We have only to stop and consider what happened to the actual Son of God to realize this blessing will cost us. But when we consider what we have gained from his sacrifice, we know the cost is worth it.

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