TEXT:

‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God’ (Matthew 5:9).

There was strife between the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot (See Genesis13:5-12). This was the result of prosperity, as both saw their flocks and herds increase rapidly, and they ran out of room to share pastures together. Hostility was threatening their family relationship. This account in Genesis shows how wisely Abraham handled a delicate situation and as a result, they separated amicably. This incident reveals some important principles about peace-making. You will know you are a true peacemaker:

• When you understand how much God has forgiven you.

Jesus taught the parable about the Unforgiving Servant (See Matthew 18:21-35). He had an insurmountable debt to repay, that was totally and freely forgiven by his master. The threat of prison was lifted the moment his debt was cancelled, but he didn’t act in a generous way to a fellow-servant who owed him a very small sum. He refused to give him any more time to repay and had him thrown into prison. It wasn’t long before they changed places, after the other servants complained to their master about what had happened. 10,000 was the biggest measurable number at that time. Today we have gone from a million, to a billion, to a trillion. We all offend God in many ways, too many to count, yet we can count on God’s continual forgiveness through Jesus. ‘For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us’ (Ephesians 2:14 NLT). Why do we build walls of separation again? Realising how much God has forgiven me, helps me to forgive others and be reconciled.

• When you do not use your age to get your own way

Abraham was years older than Lot. Theirs was a tribal culture. The younger must always submit to the older and the lesser to the greater, but Abraham didn’t use age and seniority to demand his own way. Lot had tagged along when Abraham journeyed to the land of Canaan. He had agreed to look after Lot, after his father, Abraham’s brother, had died. Surely Lot should have submitted out of sheer gratitude. It’s always a shame when Christians are quick to forget the kindness they have been shown. Lot’s prosperity was down to Abraham’s generosity in giving him something to start with in the first place, but soon he was thinking every increase was due solely to himself and not Uncle Abraham. Never forget the part others have played in your past to get you to where you are in the present. Honour is rapidly becoming a forgotten word in today’s selfish generation.

• When you emphasise the bond of family

‘Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren’ (v8)

Abraham said to Lot, we can’t fall out over this, we are brethren and must stick together. We need each other and must settle this issue as a family.

How many churches would spring into revival if differences were settled based on being part of God’s family and brothers and sisters in Christ? How many Christians avoid each other in church yet lift their hands in worship? God is not deceived. Jesus said, ‘This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God’ (Matthew 5:23-24 MSG).

In the Parable of the Lost Son (See Luke 15:11-32), the barrier between the two brothers that caused the younger to leave home, was still there when he returned. The father tried to persuade his older son to join in the party, reminding him they were a family, but we will never know if the older and younger brothers were reconciled. When the younger son wanted to be counted as a servant, the father declared, ‘My son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found’ (v24). His son would always remain his son!

Peter asked Jesus, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ (Matthew 18:21). Jesus replied, ‘No, not seven times, but seventy times seven!’ (v22). The only part of the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus repeated was to do with forgiving others and being reconciled. How we deal with others determines how God will deal with us!

Paul criticised the Corinthian Christians for taking one another to court, instead of trying to be reconciled through the wise counsel and mediation of mature believers (See 1 Corinthians 6:1-8). He also wrote to the Philippians, ‘I urge Euodia and Syntyche to iron out their differences and make up. God doesn’t want his children holding grudges’ (Philippians 4:2 MSG).

In Part 2 we shall study three more ways that help us to be a peacemaker. We don’t have to wait until then to start the process. The Bible says, ‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone’ (Romans 12:8 NIV). I am not responsible for the actions and reactions of others, but I am for my own!