Our Purpose Found In Peace
Written by Cheryl Boyce for Impact Church, Toronto
Note To Parents:
Welcome Back to Impact Church Toronto’s Week 7 in the Fighting Words Series.
This week we’re talking about finding our purpose in being peacemakers. We’re discussing the difference between being a peacekeeper and a peacemaker. We pray that this week speaks to you and that it helps as you pursue a home with greater peace as we navigate these weird times in history. As always, don’t forget to reach out to us, either digitally or in person. Community is so important, and we would love to connect with you on a deeper level. We’re praying for you!
Have a great week!
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DEVOTIONAL
Have you ever wondered what you were born to do? A question that we get asked a lot when we’re little is, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” For some, that’s an easy question to answer. Some kids know right from the start that they want to be a teacher, or a fireman or a video game developer. In my house, the kids would like to become famous YouTubers!
As we grow up, a more critical question starts being asked. This question is a little bit deeper. We begin to ask ourselves who we want to be, rather than what we want to be. We search for meaning and purpose in the life that we have been given. Answering this question can be challenging. There are so many options. When we’re searching for answers to important questions like this, the best place to turn is towards our Heavenly Father and his word.
In Matthew 5:9, we’re told that “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”
When you first hear this scripture, it’s easy to assume that what this scripture tells us is to be nice and don’t start fights, and then God will accept you as his child. But that’s not what this scripture is saying.
Keeping The Peace vs. Peacemaking
It can be confusing to see the difference between what it means to keep the peace and peacemaking.
If you do a quick Google search and ask, “what does keeping the peace mean?” The answer you will find is this:
hold/keep one's peace, to refrain from or cease speaking; keep silent - www.dictionary.com
In this week’s scripture, the Bible isn’t instructing us to “keep the peace.” The instruction we’re given is to be a peacemaker. When you look up that word, you find that being a peacemaker is the opposite of being a peacekeeper. Peacemaking is NOT a “sit back and keep quiet” kind of word. When you dig a little deeper and study this word in the Bible, you’ll actually find that it means to be an ambassador for peace.
Have you ever heard of an ambassador? Ambassadors are representatives or the voice of a brand or a group or even a country. On Instagram, you’ll find lots of brand ambassadors. Their job is to wear the clothes of a brand or talk about important things to a company.
In this case, because we are children of God and represent God’s family, it is our job to be peacemakers. It is our job to lift our voices against injustice. It’s our job when we see struggle and pain to step in and work for peace to come to the situation. God never intended for us to hide and keep quiet and stay out of the tough stuff.
If you read Matthew 5:9 in the Message version, you’ll see it put this way:
9 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.
When we are helping to end fights and bringing unity to the world, that’s where we find who we are. It’s in peacemaking that we find our purpose, and people will know that we are Children of God because we are upholding peace, which is a significant value in his family.
We find purpose in our lives when we pursue making peace in our lives, our community and our world.
If you ever feel like you aren’t sure what you should be doing with your life or you’re not sure what you were born to do, remember that you are a peacemaker because you are a Child of God. You’re the kind of person who loves justice, helps people cooperate, shows people how to end a fight, and forgive. You don’t run away from the tough stuff but run into it with the hope of Peace for anyone who will listen because you, sweet friend, are a child of God.
Some Stuff To Think About
Question 1: Before reading this scripture, had you thought about the difference between being a PeaceKeeper and a PeaceMaker? Explain in your own words what the difference is between the two.
Question 2: Do you think it’s easier to be a PeaceKeeper of a PeaceMaker?
Question 3: What are some ways that you can help make peace this week? Is there someone that you’re fighting with and need to clean up the relationship mess? Brainstorm with your friends or family about how you can have a more peaceful home.
Challenge: It’s clear that peace is an essential value in God’s family. What are some important values in your family? This week pick a time to sit down with the people in your family and discuss some values that you will work towards making important in the way you live.
PRAYER
(Here’s a prayer to pray together or on your own as you memorize your “Fighting Words” this week.)
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for all the ways you have blessed us and kept us this week. Lord, we pray that you would help us not just to be peacekeepers but to be peacemakers. Lord, show us how we can bring peace in our lives, our families, and our community. Thank you for making us your children and welcoming us into your family. Help us establish peace in our household and bring peace to the lives of the people we come in contact with, whether online or in person.
We love you.
Amen!