Wanna be Called Sons of God? Be a Peacemaker

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.

Matthew 5:9

Imagine a mother looking out of her living room window at her three year old son, who is riding his tricycle in the lawn. Her heart spilling over with love, she goes to the kitchen, pours a glass of lemonade and take it out to him. After he drinks it, she picks him up and hugs him and tells him how much she loves him. The little boy feels wonderful. But while mom is back in the kitchen rinsing out the glass, he gets back on his tricycle and cruises right into the street where he was told never to ride. Mom looks back out of the living room window just as a car screeches to a stop, and then carefully eases its way around her precious son. She rushes into the street and picks up the boy. As soon as they're back in the safety of the house, she starts yelling and spanking him. 

The little boy wonders what's wrong with his mother, who just moments ago was hugging him and giving him lemonade. Where has all the love gone? What the boy doesn't understand is that this is love in a different form and in fact this is the real form. The happy time five minutes ago with the lemonade and the hugs is a distant memory right now, because the mom was dealing with life and death. 

Peace-makers are motivated out of love - real love. If there is any other motivation behind what you are doing or saying then we are not acting as a peacemaker. 

Jesus' primary role when He came to this earth was to be a Peacemaker. He was making real peace, between God and man. If we try to be a true peacemaker as the Word of God calls us to be, there will be times when we will  be misunderstood and misrepresented, but God says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." 

Why will we be called "sons of God"? Because when we are truly working for real peace we bear God's likeness. I am sure we all used to love it in our growing up stage, people saying, "doesn't he/she look like his dad/mom!" But there is no greater honour in all the world, than, when people can say, "Isn't he/she like the heavenly Father. Isn't he/she like Jesus?" 

We need to be clear of one fact - Peace doesn't just happen. We make peace. Peace never happens by chance. Though this is true we may get a false idea from the phrase "peacemaker" that making this peace is up to us. But that is not what it is all about. We are to be the messengers of peace. 

Some seven hundred years ago a remarkable man was born. Although he was the son of an Italian cloth merchant and destined to be a knight, he abandoned the path of wealth and fame, choosing instead to wear a ragged cloak tied with a rope borrowed from a scarecrow. He spent his days preaching and giving to others. He chose to live in utter poverty.

History records that he was a noble, kind, humble, Christ-like man, perhaps one of the greatest Christians who ever lived. We know him today as St. Francis of Assisi. Centuries after his death, someone translated one of his prayers into English. It was later set to music. May of you might know these words by heart. 

Lord make me an instrument of Thy peace

Where there is hatred, let me sow love

Where there is injury, pardon

Where there is doubt, faith

Where there is despair, hope

Where there is darkness, light

Where there is sadness, joy

When we live out this prayer, people will call us sons of God. We can do nothing more God-like than bring peace to those separated from God and from each other. We are called to peace and we are to actively pursue peace. 

Dear Friends, this Lenten Season can we take up the challenged to be called the sons and daughters of Jesus?
May the Lord strengthen us for the same. God Bless you.