Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are
the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Notice
He doesn’t say peace lovers – everyone loves peace but peace making is hard.
A
peacemaker is a person who is willing to admit that they were wrong - a person who is willing to give up their right to be right for
the sake of a relationship.
It’s
also a person who is willing to confront people and hold people accountable. God
needs peacemakers – people who stop gossipers & complainers.
He
needs people who will encourage and build up others.
Jesus goes on to explain why peacemaking will be hard for His followers:
Matthew 5:10 - Blessed are
those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
Then
He makes it personal:
Matthew 5:11-12 - 11"Blessed
are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is
your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who
were before you.
People
endure hardship and difficulty in life for so much less.
Is heaven worth the
sacrifice? God thought so, that’s why he sent Jesus.
God
thought that saving us for heaven was worth sacrificing his only son on the cross.
What
are we willing to endure – what are we willing to sacrifice for Him?
God Bless,
Tim
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