Are you a peacemaker? Does your life bring healing and wholeness to others and to your community? How do we become faithful previews of heaven’s peace here on earth?

MEDITATION

“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.” – Hebrews 12:14

REFLECTION

Those who claim to have peace with God through Jesus are called to proclaim peace everywhere they go and to everyone they meet. They are called to live life on earth as it is heaven, where peace abounds, and the conflicts caused by our selfish sinful hearts are no more. This side of heaven, while still living amidst the chaos of this world, a peacemaker’s life is a faithful preview of the City of Peace to come, where Shalom is an everyday reality. A follower of Jesus IS a “Shalomer” on earth, who is constantly and graciously reorienting every aspect of their world so that people can not only “just get along” but thrive together to see the planet flourish the way God designed it to be. It’s in our identity as God’s people to be such peacemakers, just like Jesus.  What does that look like and how does that happen?

Being a Shalomer is hard work since it takes a lot of internal humility and trust in God’s power instead of your own. First and foremost, it means checking yourself and dealing with the log in your own eye before trying to deal with the speck in another person’s eye (Matthew 7:3). If there is pride and self-righteousness in your heart, you can forget about being at peace with everyone and should expect the exact opposite.  In a disagreement, a Shalomer will seek to own their shortcomings, even if those are minimal compared to the other person’s, and for the sake of peace, check their ego at the door and put others’ interests above their own (Philippians 2:3-5). As a beloved recipient of peace from Jesus, His peace rules a Shalomer’s heart (Colossians 3:15), and as a result, they are daily addressing the issues of immorality, jealousy, anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, gossip, lying, and pointless language in their own lives. Through repentance and faith, they are being renewed as they learn to know their Creator and become like Him. They are ever-clothing themselves in love and engaging even their enemies with a spirit of grace and hopeful reconciliation. Compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience become personality traits the Holy Spirit is ever awakening and displaying in a Shalomer’s life (Colossians 3:8–13).

While Shalomers are humble, they are not weak or quiet when it comes to evil in the world. They are warriors for justice because they know that without justice there can be no peace. Like Jesus, they will speak out against the systemic inequities of society that elevate the “rich and socialized” while oppressing the “poor and marginalized.” They will “spend themselves” on behalf of the homeless and hurting (Isaiah 58:6-12) and give themselves away for the sake of the widow and orphan (James 1:27). They will sacrificially leverage their resources, privileges, and voice for the sake of those who have none, advocating for the City of Peace to come where injustice will finally be no more and all people from every color, culture, and class will dwell in diverse unity and holiness forever under the peaceful rule of Jesus (Revelation 7:9-12).

This is what Shalomers do because this is who Shalomers are. They themselves were once enemies of God, living dead and pointless lives that only contributed to the chaos of the world. But God, rich in mercy, moved toward them in grace, and through the sacrificial life and blood of Jesus on the cross reconciled them back to Himself and made peace once and for all between heaven and earth in their hearts (Colossians 1:19-22).

As recipients of such a love as this, and sharers in the new creation, Shalomers are filled and empowered by God’s Spirit and compelled by love for Jesus and others to advocate the realities of Christ’s reconciliation, redemption, and renewal here… now. Forever…  (2 Corinthians 5:14-21)

ACTION

1. Pray for deep and supernatural peace and unity amongst God’s people in your community, especially those in your church. Ask God for a unity that connects people regardless of their racial, ethnic, cultural or socioeconomic status.

2. Pray that children would be released from the generational curses and cycles of fighting and violence. Pray against bullying. Pray that children would be rescued from the domain of darkness, and brought into the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13).

3. Pray that God would receive great glory as His people advocate for justice and sow seeds of peace into the lives of their neighbors, loving them with the love of Christ.

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