Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

The day after writing Kingdom Living I am presented with a different point of view to this verse. When you see the word peacekeeper what vision is conjured up in your mind? A police officer, a soldier or perhaps a Noble Peace Prize winner might be there. Maybe it’s your mom or dad that kept the peace in the family. Nothing wrong with that either.

Today as I struggle with the bitter disappointment of man’s cruelty, greed, selfishness and pettiness, I find I have lost peace in my heart. I fight to regain it. I once lived a life of shattered disappointment and I left all that to follow Jesus. The first gift I received was the peace of God. I can now live with myself. But how can I live peaceably with my fellow man if I cannot keep that peace in my heart?

I believe in truth and justice but neither can be dispensed fairly from a heart that is not at peace. I see a world that is bitter and angry and violent while trying to impose their will on others. Violence and hatred does not win over hearts, it only creates fear and resentment.

To be a peacemaker one has to first have peace in their hearts. Love fuels peace, bitterness fuels war.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.