Peace Work
by Pastor Gene
Biblical peace is not only the absence of bad; it’s also the presence of good. It means more than just ‘not’ fighting with my neighbor, but its actively working for his good.
John the Baptist came with a powerful message of warning. Watch it carefully: “He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise” (Luke 3:7-11).
Did you catch that? When the crowds asked him what they should do, John, having just breathed out a warning of impending judgement, talked about sharing: “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”
This is what peacemakers do. Peace is not only the absence of conflict; it also involves concern for our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, and even those who consider themselves our enemies. It’s working for the good of another. Restoring things to wholeness, completeness. It’s laboring to fix what’s broken.
So, John’s answer is startling – especially in the context of his sermon! He called those who would prepare themselves for the soon-to-come Messiah to set their hearts to restoring things.
He encouraged them toward a sort of economic justice: ‘If it has pleased the Lord to give you an abundance, share generously with those who lack.’
Notice, though, John did not call for this economic justice to come through some expansive government program, but rather through the generous, individual sharing of those whose hearts had been captured by God.
He encouraged them to do whatever they can to make things whole, complete, right with those who are around them – to bring peace, shalom.
He’s suggesting a new way to be human, a new way to strive for peace, a new way to restore what’s broken. A new way to be a “maker” of shalom, a peacemaker.
Paul echoes this idea as well – that peace is more than just the absence of conflict, but the presence of good. He gives us two examples in Ephesians 4:28-29.
First, he says, “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”
Do you see it?
It’s not enough to ‘not’ steal. The one whose heart has been captured by God should “labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
Second, he says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Did you see it that time?
It’s not enough to ‘not’ gossip or slander. The one who’s heart has been captured by God should speak words that are “good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
This is what peace looks like. It’s far more than the absence of something destructive, it’s the presence of something edifying, helpful and God-honoring.
It’s love that propels us forward as God’s children to remove the things that offend and to labor in those things that bring wholeness to those around us. Of course, the Gospel is at the center of God’s peace-making work! So, we share the Gospel, and our time, and our possessions to help bring peace to those it pleases the Lord to set in our path. We do our small part to love generously, to make what is wrong right, and what is lacking, whole.
For, as our Lord said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).
To consider …
- Have you ever thought that being a peacemaker means more than just putting down a quarrel? That it also includes the idea of laboring to make things whole again?
- How does this new understanding change your approach to being an ambassador for Jesus?
- Has anyone ever identified you as a follower of Jesus just because of your words or your work?
- God gives us the beautiful privilege of cooperating with Him in His work as we await the coming of that day when the “earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14).
- How is the Lord using you today to be a peacemaker?
- Are there any areas where you should be ‘making’ peace that you’re not?
- What can you change today?
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This blog touched me in an unexpected way. Be careful how you share…your opinions. Nothing destroys peace more than an unkindly voiced opinion. I’ve had more than one sweet kind friend or relative whom I’ve considered “unfriending” on facebook because of their tirades about the president or the budget plan…I was, I believe, prevented from replying, perhaps a bit rudely, to a lady’s uninformed opinion about the diet I’m on, by my phone “providentially” glitching! If we are to be working toward peace, we don’t need to share EVERYTHING.
This is a treasure for us all to remember. More than once in my life I have been told, “I didn’t ask for your opinion!” We need to be careful to just listen and surely we can offer words of encouragement but not opinions that aren’t solicited or that may come across as judgemental. God, please guard my tongue!!!
Very good point Teri, thx.
Yesterday I received an email from a co-worker who asked me, unexpectedly, for prayer. She had an “incident” with another co-worker and was baffled by the other’s response…unfriended on Facebook and given the cold shoulder to the highest degree. I spoke with her on the phone and tried very hard to not feed in to the drama but told her that while I didn’t know all of the circumstances, it felt like it had just gotten blown into something way bigger than it ever needed to be. So I suggested that she reach out and start the reconciliation process being willing to accept the other’s reaction and knowing that she had done the peaceable thing by reaching out. We prayed and by late afternoon all was well between them! I give glory to God that I was seen as a Jesus follower who was able to help restore this relationship. What a privilege it is to have someone come to us for prayer and then put it into action for them. This young lady says she believes but I do not think she really knows the Lord. But she knows I do! Praise Him!!!!!!
That’s amazing!
Wow, Kerin. How I love reading your portion on the blogs. Your comment: “I cannot be an effective conduit of His peace if I am battling internal strife.” Gave me pause and made me search my own heart to be sure there is nothing “clogging my conduit”! Thank you for that!