What does a Godly family look like? It is a family that is intentional in honouring God in everything. When your family honours God, you walk in abundance.
Blessed are the peacemakers. We’re talking about how conflict is managed in your family. Most homes are characterised by conflict and not peace. Conflict is not a bad thing, it just depends how you handle it. What is your home characterised by?
Matthew 5:9 | Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.
Peace is not an absence of conflict. It is the pursuit of the highest God. So many people spend their days in pursuit of their own brand of “peace on earth.” They must do whatever is possible to either avoid conflict (one definition of peace) or to live their lives on their own terms (another definition of peace). God did not send His only Son to the earth in order for Him to make us “happy” or to make things “easy” for us. He sent Jesus to beckon us to a relationship with Him and to call us to allegiance to Him. Only when we let go of our empty pursuits and receive a God-given peace, can we become agents of peace and ministers of reconciliation to a peace-less world. We need to have an attitude of what we’re putting first. When we put ourselves first, we put peace last.
Matthew 5:38-40| 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
Peacemakers are not peacekeepers. Peacekeepers avoid confrontation to keep the peace. Peacekeepers work hard to keep tensions from rising. They work hard at pretending that nothing is wrong and that nothing is bothering them. Peacekeepers avoid conflict at any cost. Their reward is apparent peace and tranquillity.
Peacemakers embrace confrontation to keep the peace. Peacemakers invite necessary conflict because they know there is no other pathway to the increase of understanding between warring people and groups. Peacemakers value authentic peace more than its distorted parody. The peace that exists between people with the courage to endure conflict, for the sake of lasting peace, is like gold when compared to its counterfeit cousin. We are not a Christian family, we are a Christ-centred family. Christ-centred homes are not conflict-free. They seek the highest God
What do peacemakers do?
1.Tell the truth in love
This is not to break someone down but to build them up
Ephesians 4:15 | Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
2. Apologise when you’re wrong
Admit to specific actions and attitudes no excuses. True repentance means responsibility. Remorse and repentance. I’m sorry is for sins. Forgiveness is for sins.
James 5:16 | Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
3. Forgive and let go
We never look more like God than when we forgive.
Colossians 3:13 | Make allowance for each others faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Your family is worth it.
