Those who answer Jesus' call to repent, mourn sin. They realize that righteousness comes from the heart and is witnessed in humble, loving actions toward God and people. They know that Jesus provided a means of reconciliation for everyone. They not only enjoy the wholeness and harmony that they experience in their relationship with God, but they desire it for all people and all creation. They become peacemakers.
Peacemakers enjoy peace with God. They are eager to grow in their relationship with God through Bible study, prayer and obedience, following Jesus with a humble, repentant attitude. They know it is only through Jesus' sacrifice that they are able to have a relationship with God and that they must rely on the Holy Spirit to help them grow in that relationship. They realize that God is the initiator and leader in the relationship; their part is to stay close to him as they follow and obey.
Peacemakers work to have peace with both other believers and nonbelievers. They live in peace with others because they are eager to forgive and to ask for forgiveness. They have a pure heart toward others, not assuming evil motives or actions on their part. They are eager to understand other people's points of view. They demonstrate love for all people with their kind actions, whether a pleasant word, a helping hand or a meal.
Peacemakers work toward peace for their neighbor. They desire what is best for their lives. They know that Jesus is the only way for their neighbor to live an abundant life in relationship with God and others. They help their neighbor to know Jesus. They speak the truth in love.
Peacemakers desire peace in the world. They long for shalom, or wholeness and restoration of God's original plan for life on earth. They have a sacrificial love for people and an active concern for the rest of God's creation. Peacemakers want God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven; they look forward to the day when the whole earth will be a part of the heavenly kingdom. Though this fallen world will never experience complete shalom, peacemakers do whatever they can in their lives to reconcile all of God's creation to the creator.
Peacemakers are called children of God because they have answered the call to be his children. They demonstrate a resemblance to their heavenly Father in their heart and their actions. God is pleased to adopt them into his family and treat them as his own because they long for a relationship with him and want to be used by him for his purposes. The peacemaker's desire is to live God's call for repentance, reconciliation, righteousness and relationship: they live in God's kingdom; they are his children.
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