The seventh beatitude is found in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” What does it mean to be a peacemaker for Christ?
Disciples of Jesus are called to be “ministers of reconciliation.” This world is full of broken relationships. People are separated from God, in conflict with their families, and even disconnected from themselves. As Jesus gives the Sermon on the Mount, He is challenging His disciples to be reconciled to God and to others and to be whole in our hearts. After that, we are called to go and give away that reconciliation, helping people connect to God, helping families heal, and helping people live undivided lives.
Paul writes that every believer who has experienced the miracle of reconciliation with God through Christ is sent out with the message and the ministry of reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20:
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
What an amazing call! Be reconciled to God. Do the work of asking for forgiveness from the people you have hurt and forgive the people who have taken from you. Live a life of peace, allowing the Holy Spirit to give you an undivided mind and heart. And here is the promise: ministers of reconciliation will be called the sons of God.
God only had one Son and He was a missionary. God considers those who are His sent ones as His children. Reconciled to God, we are adopted into His family, with all of its privileges. Go invite everyone who will listen!
Apply it:
What are you doing to reconcile others to God? Is there someone you need to be reconciled to? If so, what does God want you to do about it? What are you doing to help people reconcile with one another?
Take a moment to pray, thanking God that He sent Jesus to reconcile us to Him and is not counting our sins against us. Ask God to help you be His ambassador and to give you opportunities to lead others to Him. Ask God to help you reconcile with anyone you need to be at peace with.
This post is adapted from a lesson of the Mini Bible College, an online study of the whole Bible. We highly recommend their audio resources and written materials, available in many languages, to anyone who wants a stronger understanding of the Bible.