As God adds and subtracts from our lives, He is bringing forth beauty (from His perspective) from our lives. This is the beauty of becoming.
“Becoming is beautiful. It’s a beautiful thing to be molded because it means that we are being constantly touched by The Creator. Take joy in the molding. Take joy and excitement in the uncertainty of the final result of what you will become and when. Anything is possible when you are being formed by a God with a limitless imagination and set of skills.” https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-beauty-of-becoming
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is God’s ‘Art Show Handbook’ (Ephesians 2:10). We know exactly the lighting, perspective, tones, hues, colors, and contours of godly beauty.
In His previous beatitude, Jesus invites us into the beauty of becoming pure in heart. This single-minded, all of me moving toward all of God in purity of heart, is genuinely beautiful.
Today’s beatitude, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God,” expands our beauty portfolio to include, all of me moving toward all of God in purity of heart and helping other people and things to do the same.
As a Christian peacemaker I diligently seek to bring everything and everyone in my circle of influence (including myself) into a growing peace with God, themselves, and each other.
To continue experiencing God as “the God of peace” requires me to be increasing in vertical (with God), internal (within), and horizontal (with others) peace.
Consider Malachi’s insight into Aaron, the first High Priest. Malachi 2:5-6
“My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin.
Although God’s new covenant is different than the first, it is never a lesser covenant. For example, Hebrews refers to the New Covenant as “better.” Hebrews 8:6
- God’s covenant with Aaron was a covenant of life and peace and God gave life and peace to Aaron.
- This gift called for reverence and Aaron gave reverence to God and stood in awe of His name.
- Aaron walked with God:
- In peace
- Uprightness
- And turned many from
Jesus, the Ultimate High Priest, also walks in a covenant of peace and life.
- He came and preached peaceto you who were far away and peace to those who were near. Ephesians 2:17
- and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peacethrough his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:20
- 20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21
God’s blessing (blessed are) is reserved for those who, having received God’s peace, work to establish that peace with and for everyone and everything within their circle of influence.
Remember the eternal immensity of God. Blessing from the all mighty, all knowing, everywhere present, eternally gracious God is far more expansive than any human being can fully understand.
A “whole beatitude” peacemaker is a son of God!
- Born into the family by the Spirit.
- Adopted into the family by the Spirit.
- Engrafted into the family by the Spirit.
One of the greatest blessings one could ever receive is being invited into a Father/son relationship with GOD!
Jesus extends His “Abba, Father” relationship with God to you!!!
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15
Christian peace is, first and foremost, NOT the absence of conflict but the presence of the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
What we have received generously and graciously from God, we give generously and graciously to others.