“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God”

Matthew 5:9

     The history of mankind reflects that whatever ambitions a person may have, inner peace is one of the top priorities he strives to possess.

     As members of the Kingdom of God, Christians are the only people who are able to give mankind the peace that everyone seeks. “The fruit of the Spirit (who lives within all who have been born again) is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23a).

A peacemaker does not seek peace at any price; rather, a peacemaker has a different view because he is being delivered from concern for self. His interest is focused on bringing true inner peace to mankind regardless of personal sacrifice. He sees a much bigger and more important purpose in life. Jesus was the supreme example of this. He sacrificed His rights and went to the cross to bring peace to the hearts of mankind.

The blessing promised to a peacemaker is a great tribute. Jesus said that “they will be called sons of God.” You know the saying “like father, like son”? When the characteristic of peacemaking becomes part of our nature, we will truly be acting like a son of God. This once again demonstrates how different the Kingdom of God is from the kingdom of the world.

Nothing else in Scripture so thoroughly condemns the humanistic way of bringing peace as does the Sermon on the Mount. In the world’s kingdom, mankind will always experience international tension, threats of war and discord among people.
Self-centeredness, greed and lust will always show themselves. They are inherent part of man’s sinful nature. Therefore, man’s way of bringing peace-by political, economic, and social means–does not work. The only way is to go to the heart. That is the theme of all of Jesus’ teachings. We must be made new from the inside out.

In conclusion to this blog Series on the “Spiritual Characteristics of the Kingdom of God”… here are some points to remember. The seven spiritual characteristics mark the unique differences between what is to govern our way of life under Christ, and that which marks the life of a non-Christian. They show us just how dependent we are on the power of the Holy Spirit within us, and how useless is  the power of our flesh in living out the life of Christ. The degree to which these characteristics are developed in us is not the criteria for our salvation, they they directly impact how successful we will be in fulfilling God’s mission of being the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

We are in the world, but we are no longer members of its kingdom. Therefore, we are to separate ourselves from its standards. This is essential if we are to declare the wonderful deeds of him to called us out of darkness. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).