Title: Peacemaker / Matthew 5:9
Contents Jesus came to plant peace in this world. He is the one who turned hate into love by proclaiming shalom to a society that hates and competes with each other. By forgiving the discord between God and humans as an unprecedented event called the cross, He achieved peace between God and humans and between humans and humans. Jesus commands him to be a messenger of love, not only for himself, but also for those of us who follow him today. Some people make peace in their place, while others instigate feelings of insecurity and hatred. Christians should be peacemakers.
Today's text is a part of the scene where Jesus spoke of the 8 blessings in the Sermon on the Mount. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). However, in today's verse, not all believers are recognized as children of God, but the peacemaker is the Son of God. A "peacemaker" is one who makes peace. Point to the Peacemaker.
Today is the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War in 1950. The feelings of hatred for each other were so extreme that they went to the worst state of war. According to our anti-communist theory, North Korea is unconditionally a bad country. This is a country that must be defeated. However, 50 years later, we are still left with only the scars of the war. When the leaders of the two Koreas met and confirmed that they were one nation, we must first learn to love each other.
Peace is the Lord's covenant command
To believe in Jesus means to follow His commands and follow in His footsteps. When Jesus says, “Teach them to obey all I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20), we believe and obey it as a great command. As I have already said while expounding on Genesis, the Lord's covenant is a command. Today's verse contains the covenant that the peacemakers will be blessed. The Lord's covenant always entails a command. So, these words are the Lord's promises and the Lord's commands that humans must follow. We must obey this Lord's command.
(Isa 54:10) "Mountains shall depart, and hills shall move, but my kindness will not depart from me, nor my covenant of peace, saith the LORD, who is merciful to you." God is the peacemaker. (Ephesians 2:14-15) “For he is our peace, who hath made the two one, and broke down the middle wall, and abolished in his flesh the enmity, that is, the ceremonial law of commandments, because the two made one new in him. He made men and made them peace.” God is not the only one who commands peace, but He has already spared no effort and effort for peace. That is the crucifixion of Jesus.
Even now, the Lord is in control of the country and history, and he leads us to peace. (Zechariah 9:10) "I will cut off the chariots of Ephraim and the horses of Jerusalem, and I will cut off the bow of war, and he will bring peace to the Gentiles, and his dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the river Euphrates to the ends of the earth." Would you like to do it differently?
God wants us to be peacemakers now. (Psalm 34:14) He says, "Forsake evil, do good, seek peace and pursue it." God does not see enemies as enemies. In fact, in our feelings, the North is the enemy. But as long as we deal with our enemies, there is no unity. (Matthew 5:43-44) "And you have heard it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy,' but I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." This is what we need to do.
How do you make peace?
1. You must break down the blocking wall.
A united Germany is a pioneer in this regard. The Berlin curtain that blocked East and West Germany, the day it fell, they became one. In Korea, the day the barbed wire of the armistice crosses is the day when unification is achieved. Where would this be the only visible barrier? The invisible veil of distrust and hatred is more frightening. (Ephesians 2:14) "He is our peace, who made the two one, and broke down the middle wall." The Lord's method of peace is to break down this barrier of unbelief.
Since the Korean War in 1950, we have waged an invisible war with each other aiming guns and knives. The Cold War era was a half-century of mutual distrust and hostility. There were days when I stared at the fact that only the armed forces could protect the nation. This wall must be broken. The way of reunification of South and North Korea should be sought through the method of peace. Fortunately, it is encouraging that the two leaders met for that purpose.
2. Peace makes peace.
Jesus said to Peter, who cut off the ear of Malchus who had come to arrest him. (Matthew 26:52) "Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword." This is the absolute principle of achieving peace. If we still lived in an era where we thought that we would make peace with each other through the military, now we need to have a vision of making peace with peace.
(James 3:18) "Peacemakers sow in peace and reap the fruit of righteousness." Only peace begets peace. (Psalm 85:10) This is how "mercy and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissed each other." We Christians need to know that we are called to be the vanguard of this peace.
The cross, the symbol of Christianity, is a mathematical plus sign. It is a sign of reconciliation. Christians are children of God. If we interpret today's words the other way around, if we are children of God, we must become peacemakers. We hope that our Yeeun family will be peacemakers everywhere.
Blessed are those who make peace
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9) Yes, today's text makes this clear. [Son of God] Blessings! It is truly precious. EX) On the way to the victory of a king, all of the Hundreds of Manjo (滿朝百官) fell on their faces. But instead of lying on his face, isn't it that a child walks without hesitation and runs to the king? A servant beside him got off his horse and stopped the child. "Growing dignified!" I gave the command promptly. But the king said to his servant, "Leave me alone!" isn't that what It was later found out that the child was the son of this king.
How great is the power to be a son? It is even more true to become the son of a person who has power and wealth, such as a king, president, or president. In Korea, their children do not even go to the military. Hahaha. Being a son of man has this same authority, but what do you mean by saying that it is the son of God?
Dear saints,
The years of antagonism and confrontation since 6.25 have been over 50 years. Now is the time for this nation to come to their senses. The will of God, who created the heavens and the earth, and provides for them, is to become one even with each other. Our members who are called for this work must break down the walls of unbelief and become peacemakers through peace. Obviously, such people become sons and daughters of God. I hope that you will become peacemakers and enjoy the blessings of that great power.