Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
(Mathew 5:9)
Peacemakers (the Greek word here is "eirenopoios") means to MAKE peace.
The classical Greek word for peacemaker actually means "ambassador."
However, the Hebrew emphasis for peacemaker in Mathew 5:9 refers to the peace that the Jewish people wished upon each other when they greeted each other with the Hebrew word "shalom. "
"Shalom" refers to an inner completeness and tranquility brought on by sharing in God's countenance and protection.
According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, "shalom" means “completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.” It is actually translated “success.”
But whose success?
Shalom refers not only to a successful peace between individuals or nations, but it FIRSTLY refers to a successful peace "within an individual."
But how can an individual gain that kind of peace and success?
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
Before we can prosper as God's ambassadors bringing peace between two individuals or between two nations, we have to FIRST be at peace with ourselves which cannot happen until we are at peace with the Lord, a peace established in a relationship with Him that is grounded IN HIS WORD.
(Romans 5:10))
For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
JESUS is:
The Word (John 1:1)
and
The Way, The Truth and The Life (John 14:6).
FIRST comes reconciliation with God.
SECOND comes a relationship with God.
Both are established through the truth of God's Word, and both result in genuine peace.
We cannot negotiate a genuine peace between two people or between two nations without first being individually reconciled to God.
There is a saying that originated during the Renaissance that I heard a lot growing up in the 1950's.
"Don't put the cart before the horse."
Don't put external peace ahead of internal peace. If you do, friendships will collapse, nations will soon be at war again and you'll end up with a broken down cart and a runaway horse.
Shalom!
for they will be called children of God.
(Mathew 5:9)
Peacemakers (the Greek word here is "eirenopoios") means to MAKE peace.
The classical Greek word for peacemaker actually means "ambassador."
However, the Hebrew emphasis for peacemaker in Mathew 5:9 refers to the peace that the Jewish people wished upon each other when they greeted each other with the Hebrew word "shalom. "
"Shalom" refers to an inner completeness and tranquility brought on by sharing in God's countenance and protection.
According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, "shalom" means “completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.” It is actually translated “success.”
But whose success?
Shalom refers not only to a successful peace between individuals or nations, but it FIRSTLY refers to a successful peace "within an individual."
But how can an individual gain that kind of peace and success?
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
Before we can prosper as God's ambassadors bringing peace between two individuals or between two nations, we have to FIRST be at peace with ourselves which cannot happen until we are at peace with the Lord, a peace established in a relationship with Him that is grounded IN HIS WORD.
(Romans 5:10))
For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
JESUS is:
The Word (John 1:1)
and
The Way, The Truth and The Life (John 14:6).
FIRST comes reconciliation with God.
SECOND comes a relationship with God.
Both are established through the truth of God's Word, and both result in genuine peace.
We cannot negotiate a genuine peace between two people or between two nations without first being individually reconciled to God.
There is a saying that originated during the Renaissance that I heard a lot growing up in the 1950's.
"Don't put the cart before the horse."
Don't put external peace ahead of internal peace. If you do, friendships will collapse, nations will soon be at war again and you'll end up with a broken down cart and a runaway horse.
Shalom!
