Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
James 3:18 NIV
I am a peacemaker by nature; a conflict resolver at any cost, or at least I used to be. I don’t think that is the kind of peacemaker James is referring to. He is actually talking about healthy peacemakers who are personally at peace with God‘s authority and willing to bring a sense of peace wherever they go. It doesn’t matter who they are with…they just have that gift.
Turn in your Bible to James 3:13-4:1
If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? (New Living Translation)
What a hard question he is asking the people! And what kind of answer do you think you would have given him? What does cause the fighting among God’s people? I think the answer comes in the second question that is asked: “Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?” That answer is yes.
The fact is: conflict is part of our human condition. It exists in most households, offices, and churches. But just because there is conflict, doesn’t mean that there has to be fighting and quarreling. However, they usually go hand in hand, especially if people are not willing to take responsibility for their own part in an argument. They find someone or something to blame for their actions instead of just admitting the wrong that they did or the words that they said.
But God calls us to be different. As His children, we pray for the wisdom to do the hard things—like admitting we were wrong and asking for forgiveness. He calls us to be humble, knowing that we are human and will make mistakes. Read James 3:13 again. The writer is reminding us that one who is wise and understands God’s ways will show it by deeds done in humility. Saying we are sorry requires humility and that means admitting to others that we are actually wrong sometimes. (We don’t like that very much.) But in order to be the light that Jesus calls us to be and to be the witness that leads others to Him we must right our wrongs.
This is the kind of peacemaker that God calls us to be. The kind that humbles themselves and shows love to others. Seeking God’s wisdom delivers us from the need to be right all the time and helps us become the humble servant to those that we come in contact with.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9
{ You are a child of God…. }
Do you know this God that loves you so much? He is your Father and He wants so much to be in your life. Or maybe you know Him but you’ve moved away from Him and need to get back on track. If so, He is waiting and He will meet you right where you are.
I would love for you to pray this prayer with me today:
Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and I need forgiveness. I am far from You today and I want to change that. I believe that Jesus is Your Son and He died for my sins. I ask that Jesus come into my heart today and be Lord of my life. Walk with me…gve me more knowledge of You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
