City Life Starter

Written by Scott Fiddler

The Word

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Matthew 5:9 (NASB)

Commentary

“Visualize World Peace.” We’ve all seen the bumper stickers.  Well get this: a study done by Colorado State University found that people with bumper stickers on their cars—even “Visualize World Peace—are far more likely to express road rage by honking, tailgating, and other aggressive behavior. Maybe those who want us to visualize world peace should visualize getting along with their neighbor first.

John Lennon wrote a song called Imagine. The lyrics go like this:

 Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion, too

Imagine all the people

Livin' life in peace



You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one

Lennon apparently believed the reason we didn’t have peace in the world was because of nationhood and religion, because people were willing to die for them. Lennon wanted us to “imagine all the people living life in peace,” but Lennon apparently couldn’t live in peace with his first wife, whom he allegedly slapped, cheated on, and then divorced to marry Yoko Ono. 

My wife, Cindy, was in the campus ministry for fifteen years.  Once when she was at San Jose State University, she went out on campus to support another campus minister who was open-air preaching on campus. While he was preaching, the president of the group, Students for Peace, got so angry he jumped up and violently shoved the young evangelist off the stage.

Application

Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Peacemakers are those who make peace, not those who merely talk about it, sing about it, or lead organizations devoted to it. Peacemakers are those who get along with their neighbor, love their spouse, and don’t push preachers off stages. Peacemaking starts at home, with those closest to us, and with those with whom we daily interact. 

Prayer

Lord, help me to be a peacemaker. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.