Blessed Are the Children of God

Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Matthew 5:9 NKJV

In the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus lists nine categories of people, spanning far-reaching horizons, outlining the profile of the true disciple. Here, the term “blessed” refers to someone whose life is enviable and who deserves our congratulations. I don’t know about you, but if I had to choose just one, I’d have quite a bit of trouble. Probably, though, after some initial hesitation, I’d opt for the seventh—namely, the peacemakers. You might think this choice is based on the reward of the Beatitude—that is, being called a “child of God.” I assure you, however, that this choice is rooted in who I am. And those who know me well can attest to that. The Beatitudes project us into the certainty of faith, challenging us to move beyond the attitudes of the “carnal” man and to walk in the footsteps of the One who has made the Father known to us. This verse allows us to consider how we usually use the expression “children of God” to describe those who attend church or call upon the name of the Lord. But that is incorrect. If receiving God’s gift and being born again gives us the right (acquired through Jesus) to call Him “Father,” the Sermon on the Mount helps us focus on an essential prerogative, the defining characteristic: the commitment to peace.

Peace implies no war, no strife, no action that undermines personal, familial, or church-wide serenity and fellowship. No self-interest will be placed before peace. The Book of Proverbs draws a clear distinction between those who plot evil and those who seek peace: for the former, deceit; for the latter, joy: “ deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but for those who harbor intentions of peace there is joy” (Proverbs 12:20). Scripture declares that attaining joy presupposes the pursuit of peace, because the two go hand in hand, like the two sides of the same coin. If one fosters discord and division, they will never have joy for themselves or for those around them. The believer who considers himself a child of God should remember the Master’s words in the Beatitudes, where the only condition is to strive, commit oneself, and labor for peace. “Those who seek peace” find joy along their path. Jesus came so that our joy might be complete, and God created us for this very purpose. Joy is a deep longing of the human heart, quite different from happiness—a fleeting and transient emotion—since the latter is tied to situations and material circumstances. Many, however, do not find joy because they do not know the Father of joy; instead, they fill their lives by chasing illusions and even feeding their souls with sin, as King David did when he became infatuated with Bathsheba.

When you stray from the path of peace, the direct consequence will be the loss of the joy of salvation and of the divine presence. It was for this reason that, rebuked by the prophet and aware of his own sin, David prayed: “Lord, restore to me the joy of salvation” (Psalm 51:12). To have Bathsheba, he had not hesitated to plot the death of her husband, who was also his faithful soldier. A child of God cannot harm anyone, for he must continually strive to do unto others as he would have them do unto him. In a society increasingly marked by conflict and rivalry, the community—the body of believers—should stand out as an island of joy, where peace is sown and nurtured, and where every selfish ambition gives way to God’s “shalom.” The Lord has come to you with His Word so that you may have life in abundance and complete joy. If you nurture peace in the name of the Lord, Scripture declares that there is joy for you. Remember that whenever your joy reaches its peak and you are savoring its sweetness, something will come along to try to embitter you. Do not let yourself be deceived or robbed, for “the Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” (Psalm 126:3). May the words of the psalmist be an inspiration for this time: “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14).

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Weekly Bible Reading Plan #34

August 17, Psalms 97–99; Romans 16

August 18, Psalms 100–102; 1 Corinthians 1

August 19, Psalms 103–104; 1 Corinthians 2

August 20, Psalms 105–106; 1 Corinthians 3

August 21, Psalms 107–109; 1 Corinthians 4

August 22, Psalms 110–112; 1 Corinthians 5

August 23, Psalms 113–115; 1 Corinthians 6