Over time I've had lots of thoughts, some shared on this page, of the massive importance of two verses in scripture. They keep coming back time and again, always taking me a little deeper into their impact on our lives. The first is from Matthew 5 v 9::
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Much of life seems to have been lessons on this verse, especially about what it means to be a peace 'maker' rather than 'keeper'. To simply 'keep the peace' often means that we constantly enable things to remain exactly the same, preventing the change that God is trying to work out around us. Much peace keeping is born in fear and insecurity.
Romans 8:19 contains this amazing statement about the sons of God (the peacemakers we've been talking about):
The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
Can you imagine something so amazing and important that creation is holding it's breath, eagerly awaiting and expecting the sons of God to be revealed? This has to be something of incredible heavenly importance!
In a day when we see 'peace keeping' troops being sent into the troubled areas of our planet, the name alone indicates something vital is missing from the equation, and common sense tells us that in many instances it is a fairly futile effort.
Romans 8:14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Here in Romans we have an indication of the special attribute these sons (and daughters) have - something beyond the best intentions and good ideas of men, the 'wow' factor that brings change in ways that are beyond human endeavour.
It takes something more than our human wisdom and ability to accomplish peace 'making' - we need heavenly help, and the supernaturally natural leading and enabling of God's Spirit.
Galatians 3 v 26 is another verse that talks about the sons of God, and it indicates that all those who are believers in Jesus Christ are already sons of God, so we have to ask 'if this is so, why are we not seeing more action in this regard?'.
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,
Perhaps, as in so many areas, we have carried on trying to keep things peaceful, and even our efforts to make peace have not been by the leading of God's Spirit?
Last week I had a personal lesson in this regard. For the last few months I have found myself constantly thinking of someone whose friendship I valued but had become disconnected from. I kept thinking it would be good to make contact again, but kept putting it off.
Then, a situation arose where I knew it was most important to make that connection as the person needed encouragement, love and support. I made the call (at what I found was just the right time) and a meeting was arranged.
Through the entire meeting I found myself caught in a feeling of peaceful serenity such as I have never experienced before. I kept wondering what it was, and came away pondering this for days afterward. As I have pondered and prayed, I have come to the conclusion that what I felt was what the Holy Spirit pours out over true reconciliation when He has led us into it - it is like being held in a bubble of the most pure peace, totally undisturbed in any way, totally free from fear, anxiety, and filled instead with the love of God.
It costs us something to make peace. It has to be approached with prayer and a willingness to surrender to God's process. But I now understand why creation waits for this particular manifestation - if the whole earth were bathed in this serene peace it would be a totally different world.
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