Sunday, 29 June 2025

The Kingdom of Heaven 7!

The Kingdom of Heaven 7!

Matthew 5:9 AMP
[9] “Blessed [spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor] are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will [express His character and] be called the sons of God.

Hebrews 12:14 KJV
[14] Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

We consider yet another class of people referred to as blessed by God, and these are people referred to as the makers and maintainers of peace. This classification is critical to our discussion, as it is one thing to make peace, and yet another to maintain it, and an even amazing combination to be able to do both. Some people can compel uneasy peace by the threat of war, or by a show of power and strength. As long as it is not the kind of peace that is of and comes from God, it is not likely to last. In order to also fully understand the dimensions and demands of the verse above, let us consider a definition of peace: freedom from disturbance; tranquillity. That definition has two dimensions: one from the external and the other from the internal perspective. Peace can be external, where, like in king Solomon's reign, he really didn't fight a war the way his father David did. 

There is also the internal, where, even in the face of external storms and wars, there is a tranquility that calms the heart. It does not matter what the force of the winds and waves are; the man with this kind of peace is at rest in God, sure, certain and confident in the calm assurance of God's presence and power. Of course, if a man has this kind of peace, you will do all you can to maintain it, and also to promote it. If you know the value of what you hold and have, you will treat it as the treasure that it is, and not let it go, or allow anyone or anything to tamper with it. This is the beauty of a life that has peace. You cannot give what you do not have, and you cannot pretend to promote something you do not possess. Even the laws of men establish the fact that possession is nine-tenth of the law. If you have it, it will show. If you don't have it, it does not matter what else you have. 

How do I make and maintain peace? It is first and foremost by knowing and having the Prince of Peace as your Lord and Master. The One you submit to defines your life's purpose, pursuits and priorities. When you have it, you are blessed by God. When you have Him, of course, you are His child, because you then look, sound, speak, feel, think and relate like Him. There are times when we would have stood in front of a father and son, and the family connection would be so obvious that you do not need to ask. That is what being a child of God is supposed to look like: men see or relate with you, and it seems like they have seen God. Does this describe me in this moment? Do I look like God my Father, or are there present circumstances that will require me to reevaluate my allegiance? To look like God, I have to seek, establish and maintain peace, like my Father. Is the Prince of Peace your Father? God's time of favour is here 


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