Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them,
and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will
be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the
ungrateful and wicked.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven
is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy
and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Ephesians
2:14 For He himself is
our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the
dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed
in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two,
so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the
cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you
who were far off and peace to those who were near.
Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another
Blessed are the peacemakers - Those who
strive to prevent contention, strife, and war; who use their influence to
reconcile opposing parties, and to prevent lawsuits and hostilities in families
and neighborhoods. Every man may do something of this; and no man is more like
God than he who does it. There ought not to be unlawful and officious
interference in that which is none of our business; but without any danger of
acquiring this character, every man has many opportunities of reconciling
opposing parties. Friends, neighbors, people of influence, lawyers, physicians,
ministers of the gospel, may do much to promote peace.
And it should be taken
in hand in the beginning. "The beginning of strife," says Solomon,
"is like the letting out of water." "An ounce of
prevention," says the English proverb, "is worth a pound of
cure." Long and most deadly quarrels might often be prevented by a little
kind interference in the beginning.
Children of God: Those who resemble God,
or who manifest a spirit like his. He is the Author of peace 1 Corinthians 14:33; and all
those who endeavor to promote peace are like him, and are worthy to be called
his children.
The peacemakers (οἱ εἰρηνοποιοί)
Should be held to its literal meaning,
peace-makers. The founders and promoters of peace
are meant; who not only keep the peace, but seek to bring men into harmony with
each other.
John R. W. Stott, The Message of the
Sermon on the Mount
NOW PEACEMAKING is a divine work. For
peace means reconciliation, and God is the author of peace and of
reconciliation. … It is hardly surprising, therefore, that the particular
blessing which attaches to peacemakers is that "they shall be called sons
of God." For they are seeking to do what their Father has done, loving
people with his love.
---- Here Sharla shares her 3 columns, but I can't do vertical columns, so...
Word-for-word:
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Sharla's paraphrase:
Those who work toward reconciliation and peace will be called God’s children.
Sharla's "I Will":
I will consciously look for ways to be a mediator and bring peace between people who are at odds. This is really hard for me since I actively avoid conflict. I will encourage reconciliation and fellowship in these peoples’ lives.
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