Sunday Recap: Are you a Peacemaker or Peacekeeper?

This week, Justin Davis continued our study of the Beatitudes and talked about Matthew 5:9, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Here is a little bit of what I learned…

Most people feel that peace is the absence of conflict.  So, to avoid conflict, frequently we will just say sorry when we don’t mean it to keep the peace.  Just saying sorry and keeping your mouth shut is not peacemaking.

It is important that when someone offends us or wrongs us that we tell them how we feel.  Yes, that will be uncomfortable.  Of course.  It could even cause an argument.  However, hopefully, after everything is out in the open, that relationship will be stronger due to your honesty.  The same holds true if you know you have wronged someone or offended them.  You need to apologize.  Let them know that you realize how you made them feel and that you are sorry.

This is peacemaking.

It is definitely easier to be a peacekeeper.

It is easier to avoid conflict.  Easier to just say sorry for whatever you have done, rather than have a discussion about it.  It is easier to ignore the fact that someone has made you feel inadequate and just go on your merry way, rather than tell them how they made you feel.

However, in Matthew 5:9, God says, Blessed are the peacemakers.

He wants us to pursue reconciliation in our relationships.  He knows this is how to have healthy relationships!

Let’s go out of our way to make things right with whoever we have offended or wronged.

This week, confess to someone that you know you have wronged.  Tell them how they wounded you.  Or, at the very least, at least confess it to God with the intentions of confessing it to the person at some point.

I know that is a hard challenge and is one that I will have to think long and hard on, as well.  But it is the path to being a peacemaker, instead of a peacekeeper.

Good luck to you all in your path to being peacemakers.

If you would like to hear the complete message, go here and click on Week 5: Fighting for Peace.

Do you have a post talking about what you learned this week?  Link it up below… I would love to read it and I’m sure others would too!