"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God." In God's design, living creatures produce after their own kind. Dogs do not spontaneously produce cats; they produce other dogs. Producing after one's own kind is a tiny portion of the nature of God that is instilled in His creations. As God desired man to be His closest form of fellowship, He made man after His likeness and in His image. God is a peacemaker.
From the foundation of the world, God worked out a peace plan to rescue man from the possible ill effects of man's free will. Even as God cursed man for rebellion, He unveiled His plan for reconciliation. When man became so corrupt that it repented God that He made man, Noah found peace with God. But peace did not come by Noah's efforts; it came by God's grace. Through the Prince of Peace, God has extended grace and peace to all men. God has done everything to secure peace for man except force man to accept peace. This He will not do.
Jesus urged His disciples to bless when cursed by our fellow man. He asks this because this is what He has done daily since the world began in an effort to make His peace known. Peace on earth, good will to men, is not some holiday greeting card sentiment. It is the mission of Jesus Christ. He has committed this ministry of reconciliation to His followers.
If the followers of Jesus appear narrow minded, and uncompromising, it is with good cause. God does not make peace by compromise; He does not negotiate; nor does He appease His enemies. When it comes to peace God declares, "This is the way, walk ye in it." His children can do no more and no less. Behaving after their kind, Christians are to imitate God as peacemakers extending the word of reconciliation that comes from above.
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