The mantra of a lot of us guys is “anything for a quiet life!” My dad developed the fine art of saying “Yes, dear” to my mother so convincingly that she believed that she had won the argument. Actually dad had simply decided that it was not worth the hassle to continue!
Keeping the peace as a euphemism for “anything for a quiet life” might involve a degree of compromise, of accepting something in which you do not believe because you cannot find the enthusiasm to fight for that in which you do believe. It is also interesting that “peace-keeping” is now associated with military activity the main aim of which is usually to keep rival factions apart.
But Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9). The same word is used in Colossians 1:20 – “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”
Being a peacemaker is not about a quiet life or simply preventing troublesome situations. It is about seeking to reconcile differences. It is about bringing people together, not keeping them apart. It involves action and sacrifice – Jesus himself made the supreme sacrifice on the cross and he is the Prince of Peace! Our highest aim as ambassadors of his peace is to help people become reconciled to God through personally accepting Jesus’ sacrifice for themselves.
So next time we are tempted to just “KEEP the peace” let’s ask ourselves a question: is there a peace here that needs to be MADE?
