MUSINGS

PEACE-MAKERS There is—and always has been—a great need for peace-makers. James says, “The fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for them that make peace” (James 3: 18).

So approved are they of God that the Lord says of them in Matthew 5: 9, “they shall be called sons of God”. We may try to secure righteous ends by words or actions that are unwise, impetuous, or impatient. The peace-maker does his work in a restful, calm, and patient way, moving in the power of the wisdom from above which “first is pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning, unfeigned”, James 3: 17. Such are effective. They are honoured by a divine answer—“righteousness in peace” is sown for them. May we have grace to approach difficulties in the spirit of the peace-maker.

It is instructive to study peace-makers of old as they moved into difficult and delicate situations—for instance, Abraham’s firm, but gracious, handling of Abimelech in Genesis 21; Gideon’s skilful dealing with Ephraim’s unjust complaint in Judges 8, and David’s resolution of a tense, situation in 1 Samuel 30: 21–25 as to the division of the spoil of battle. In all these cases a peace-maker operated in the wisdom from above and we see the resulting fruit—“righteousness in peace”; peace is established and right principles upheld.

FCM