Matthew 5:9
Verse 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Next on our list of things to move us past the basics is one of those things which we don’t always like to think about. It calls us out of our comfort zones and may cause us to think about things we want to forget. Forgiveness isn’t something which happens on its own, it requires effort and choice. There are as many aspects of forgiveness as there are reasons to forgive.
Forgiveness is a way of finding peace. When we have wronged the Lord we don’t find peace of heart and mind until we ask His forgiveness. Forgiveness causes us to look at the situation from more than the side we claim, looking instead at what it looked like from the other person’s point of view. We may still hold to our side of the situation but we can accept they believe their side. We do that with God sometimes, don’t we? We know where He stands on an issue but don’t want to give up our own view, this shows our pride.
When we seek God’s forgiveness it is because we have seen where our lives have failed His vision and humbly come to Him, but He forgives us because it is His nature. The thing we really need to understand is how if we are Christians then forgiveness should be part of our nature too. Forgiveness is part of peacemaking and peacemaking isn’t very popular in our world as it goes against society’s mantra of putting self first.
Notice we are talking about peacemaking, not peacekeeping. While society wants us to focus on ourselves they try to make it seem like they care about others by promoting things to keep peace. They talk about things like tolerance and everyone getting along, but their methods are not about actual peace but rather about not allowing anyone’s feelings to be hurt.
Peacemaking is more about being proactive about a hurt that has been caused instead of trying to smooth the turbulent waters. Forgiveness aligns more with peacemaking than it does with peacekeeping. Forgiveness and peacemaking require work, neither are easy because both require making the choice to do something outside our natural desires. It is much easier to allow someone to come to us in forgiveness than for us to offer it. But is that being Christ-like?
Making It Personal
Are you more of a peacemaker or a peacekeeper? How good are you at forgiving? If Christ only forgave as often as you do, how would your relationship with Him be?
Making It Personal Kids
What do you think forgiveness looks like? Do you forgive others? Are you thankful for the forgiveness Jesus gave you?
Closing Prayer
Father, we thank You for Your gracious forgiveness for our many sins. Please give us hearts which long to be peacemakers as we extend and seek forgiveness of all we know. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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