Day 7 of 7
Blessed Are the Peacemakers
The Christian's true weapons and calling
Scripture Readings
Today's Reading
Read Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
Then read Ephesians 6:10-17: Paul's description of the armor of God. Notice every piece: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Reflection
We have spent six days examining what the Bible says about violence, self-defense, just war, and the dangers of weapons becoming idols. Today we arrive at the destination: the calling of the Christian is to be a peacemaker.
Not a peacekeeper. Not a peace-lover. A peace-maker. The distinction matters enormously.
Peacekeepers avoid conflict. They smooth things over, change the subject, keep their heads down. There is a place for that. But Jesus did not say "Blessed are the peacekeepers." He said "Blessed are the peacemakers" — those who actively enter broken situations and work to bring reconciliation, justice, and shalom. Peacemaking is not passive. It is among the most courageous things a human being can do.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who knew the cost of peacemaking better than most, wrote: "The costliness of peace is revealed in the cross of Christ. To make peace, the Son of God laid down his life. Those who would follow him on this path cannot expect it to cost them less." Peace is not free. It cost Jesus his life. It cost Bonhoeffer his life. It will cost us something too — perhaps our reputation, our comfort, our sense of being right, our tribal belonging.
Tim Keller drew the connection between peace and justice: "The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children. When we speak of peace, we speak not merely of the absence of conflict but the presence of justice." True peace — biblical shalom — is not simply the absence of gunfire. It is the presence of right relationships, fair systems, mutual dignity, and flourishing for all. You cannot have peace without justice, and you cannot have justice without people willing to sacrificially pursue it.
Ephesians 6 reveals the Christian's true armory. Paul uses military language — armor, shield, helmet, sword — but every piece is spiritual, not physical. The belt is truth. The breastplate is righteousness. The shoes are the readiness of the gospel of peace. The shield is faith. The helmet is salvation. And the only offensive weapon — the only sword — is the Word of God.
This is not a metaphor for weakness. Spiritual weapons are real weapons. The Word of God has overthrown empires, freed slaves, toppled injustice, and transformed hearts in ways that no army ever could. The early church conquered the Roman Empire not with swords but with love, truth, service, martyrdom, and the unstoppable power of the resurrection. They were not armed. They were dangerous anyway.
The church's calling has not changed. In a world saturated with violence, fear, and the idolatry of power, Christians are called to be the people who make peace — who enter conflict zones (literal and metaphorical) with the gospel in their hands and the love of Christ in their hearts. This does not require naivete about evil. It does require faith that God's weapons are stronger than the world's.
Going Deeper
As you finish this plan, take inventory. Where has your thinking been challenged? Where have you been confirmed? And most importantly: What will you do? Peacemaking is not a theological position. It is a practice. It happens in homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, churches, and communities. It happens when Christians refuse to let fear drive them and instead let the cross define them. What is one concrete act of peacemaking you can undertake this week?
Key Quotes
“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children. When we speak of peace, we speak not merely of the absence of conflict but the presence of justice.”
“The costliness of peace is revealed in the cross of Christ. To make peace, the Son of God laid down his life. Those who would follow him on this path cannot expect it to cost them less.”
Prayer Focus
Ask God to make you an active peacemaker — not someone who merely avoids conflict, but someone who enters conflict with the reconciling love of Christ.
Meditation
Ephesians 6 describes the armor of God. Notice that the only offensive weapon is the 'sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.' What does it mean that the Christian's primary weapon is not physical but spiritual?
Question for Discussion
Jesus says peacemakers will be called 'sons of God' — implying that peacemaking is central to the family resemblance of God's children. What does active peacemaking look like in a culture of political polarization, gun debates, and fear of the other? Give a concrete example from your own context.