"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God"

Matthew 5:9

When my mind encounters this thought I always see a news broadcast where a large hotel is being demolished. I saw the demolition of a seventeen story build on TV. Charges of dynamite were placed at stress points in the building. In 12 seconds a building which had taken over two years to build was destroyed. It just fell in upon itself.

I was reading the Sunday school Record of a church I once served. The church was having an attendance in Sunday School of over 500 members per week. They needed a new building and built a building which would cost over 3 million dollars today.

The record showed that in one week's time the attendance dropped 200. As I kept looking I could never find the return to the former level.

I was visiting in the home of one of the leaders not long after that and asked what had happened in the church in the summer of 1967. The church split over the racial issue. A minister and college professor who was associated with the church was leader in integrating the races. He was disturbed that this large church was closed to blacks. One Sunday while the congregation was worshipping inside he held a communion service on the front steps with people of all races in attendance. The media was there, and it made front page in the local newspaper. This caused an immediate split in the congregation. It had never recovered.

A person who a rebuilds building is called an architect ... a creative designer of buildings. The person who put relationships back together is called a Peacemaker.

• • HAPPY ARE THE PEACEMAKERS FOR THEY ARE DOING THE WORK OF GOD!

     

    What is Peace?

     

    In order to understand peacemakers it is essential to define peace. The Hebrew word for peace is Shalom.

     

    SHALOM.... IS WISHING FOR A PERSON THE BEST OF ALL THINGS. It does no mean the absence of evil. However, it means desiring for another person the very best.

     

    Sometimes what is best for an individual is temporarily negative. The individual changes something in their life and everything moves to the up and up.

     

    • • Earl was going broke by degrees in a local grocery business in the late 60's. In desperation he decided to go out of that business and to seek professional advice on the best use of his building and site. It was recommended that his corner would be an excellent place for a Fast Food Restaurant. He put in chicken, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and Bar B Q. Money came rolling in.

        Said he: "Almost going broke was the best thing which ever happened to me. It made me make changes I needed to make."

         

        Peace is wishing for an individual the very best. Never forget that temporary set backs of pain, hurt, and disappointment may line the road to a new happiness.

         

        TRUE PEACE COMES WHEN ONE DEALS WITH LIFE.

         

        II. A peacemaker is one who helps individuals deal with the issues of life between individuals.

         

        The task of the peacemaker is a difficult one. It is always easier to tear down than to build up relationships. The building of human relationships is closely akin to the building of a building. It takes a great deal of time, good planning, and execution.

         

        A true peacemaker usually has his/her house in order, and endeavors to promote the same experience with others.

         

        Benson's Commentary in the middle 19th century. The scholar dealing with this subject says: "the peacemaker must possess a peaceable temper".

         

        Such a person is one who loves peace but is not averse to dealing with the issues of life. These people know and accept themselves. They are secure in their own person.

         

        Such is essential in the person who would make peace because many times those who would be helped will try to draw the helper into the problem. The peacemaker will be pulled from both sides. They can never take sides or they will become part of the problem.

        Trying to help painful relationships has the potential of being about as dangerous as trying to put a band-aid on an injured Tiger.

         

        We live in a day when peacemakers are needed as never before. The world is filled with broken relationships. One of he most beautiful experiences is to watch the healing process in action.

         

        They sat there, the two of them, unconsciously bonding themselves together. One was seventeen years old, and the other only three. They were half sisters. Not only had they been separated by 1,700 miles, parental problems, and years of age but also by a mother who was not excited about them getting together. The older sister stroked the hair of the younger. Between the strokes they shared a donut, and a common cup of soft drink. All the while they were watching TV. The younger girl's mother missed the noise she usually made and came into the Den. She looked stunned. Her body language denoted a strong desire to "break it up". She started to make a statement. Another person was watching what was happening and seized the moment to ask the mother a question ... "Are you getting used to us Southerners?"

        The mother's mind was diverted. The smaller child asked for a drink and the older sister placed the glass to her lips, and then she drank also. The mother mustered a smile and a new relationship was birthed.

         

        Are you one of God's helpers?