Blessed are the peacemakers, the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter five, we read about the Sermon on the Mount. And Jesus proclaims in verse nine, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Being a peacemaker is not an option. It is what qualifies us to be the children of the Most High God.

Paul writes to the Romans. Chapter 14 verse 17. He says, The Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking. Rather, it is of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Peace is the key to be part of God's kingdom. You cannot make peace with people unless you have the love of God in your heart. God commands us in the Gospel of Mark Chapter 12 verse 30 onwards; we see Jesus giving us the two most important commandments. He says, Love the Lord, your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength, with all your soul. And he says, Love your neighbor.

Without that love for your neighbor, you cannot be a peacemaker. We see a great example of a peacemaker in Abram in Genesis Chapter 13. We see how Abram and Lot grow in their material possession so much to an extent where the herdsmen of Abraham's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock have strife between them. They begin to quarrel. There is restlessness; and Abram walks into the situation, and he makes peace.

He tells Lot, why should we have struggles? Why should our herdsmen fight amongst themselves? Let us part ways so that we could be at peace with each other. If you know the history, we spoke about it briefly in Genesis Chapter twelve– in the previous episode. Abram, who was Lord uncle, he could have easily told Lot, Hey, I'm the senior guy here, you've got to listen to me. But that is not what Abram did. Neither did he say God called me and you followed me Lot, so you've got to listen to what I am about to tell you. That is not what Abraham did.

He told Lot, there are two pieces of land before us. You take one and I'll go the other way. If you take that one to my right, I will go to the one to the left. If you pick the one to my left, then I will go to the one to my right. Abraham is a true peacemaker and there is no way you and I could be a peacemaker without the love of God in our hearts.

We read in First Corinthians, Chapter 13 verse five. Love does not insist on its own way. Love is not irritable, nor is it resentful. So love is the only way to live by. You and I are called to be peacemakers that we may be children of God. Listen to this. Jesus has given us the command to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Let's pray for this grace.

Father, we thank you that you love us unconditionally to a point of giving Jesus to be crucified on the cross for us, for our sake, to save us. Help us Lord, to be peacemakers. Help us to have your love in our hearts that we may not insist on our own way. Help us to forgive people and help us to be peacemakers every day. In Jesus name. Amen.