Peacemakers: God's Children
Jesus’ blessing on the peacemakers is not just a word of encouragement—it’s a call to action. It’s an invitation to partner with God in setting things right.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." – Matthew 5:9 NIV
The other day, I watched a video of a toddler clomping around in her mother’s house slippers, the oversized shoes flapping wildly on her tiny feet. In another clip, a little boy stretched his legs as far as he could, carefully planting his cowboy boots in the footprints left by his father. These images made me smile—and they reminded me of how, as children, we all tried to follow in our parents’ footsteps.
That’s the image Jesus evokes in the Beatitudes when he says something unexpected. It makes sense that the poor in spirit inherit the Kingdom, that those who mourn will be comforted, that the meek will receive the earth, and that those who hunger for righteousness will be filled. The merciful are shown mercy, and the pure in heart see God. Each blessing follows a familiar rhythm—one’s spiritual state is met with a divine promise.
But then, something shifts.
You might expect Jesus to say, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will receive peace." But he doesn’t. Instead of promising them something, he renames them—they will be called the children of God.
And what do we know about children? They are their parents’ closest kin—their heirs, their own flesh and blood. They are loved with a love unlike any other. Nothing could be greater than being called a child of God.
So why are peacemakers given this name? Because they are walking in their Father’s footsteps. They are not just hoping for peace or admiring it from a distance—they are actively working to bring God's shalom into the world, wherever and however they can.
Jesus’ blessing on the peacemakers is not just a word of encouragement—it’s a call to action. It’s an invitation to partner with God in setting things right, to bring peace not as passive bystanders but as agents of God’s shalom—healing relationships, mending communities, and restoring creation itself.
When we do this, we are not simply working for God. We are walking with God, following in our Father’s footsteps as His beloved children.
Thought for Today: Where can you walk in God’s footsteps today, bringing peace just as your Father is doing?
