Monday 26th February
Read Matthew 5:9
“Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.” (NIVUK)
The bare minimum criteria we often use for ‘peace’ is the absence of conflict. But Jesus states that the good life belongs to those who make peace. Peace is not a negative, it requires active creation, it needs to be built and brought into being where it was previously absent. Peace is not simply the absence of conflict, but the presence of right, healthy relationships. That is hard work. It means you can’t be a peacemaker if you live alone and isolate yourself from the world.
It seems at first glance that the reward is incongruous. Why would peacemakers be called ‘children of God’? Part of the difficulty is the translation. Whilst ‘children’ seems more inclusive, it is literally ‘sons’. This difference is not insignificant. In biblical language, to be someone’s son is to take on their character, to follow in their steps. To be ‘sons of God’ is to take on God’s character. God seeks to bring peace where there is conflict. Where can you make peace this week?
