Called to Be Peacemakers Amidst Persecution

Devotional

Day 1: Peacemakers Reflect God’s Heart for Reconciliation

Peacemaking is not just about stopping arguments or ending conflict; it is about actively seeking to restore relationships, both between people and between humanity and God. Every follower of Jesus is called to be a peacemaker in their daily life, whether that means diffusing tension at home, in the workplace, or in the wider community. The greatest example of peacemaking is Jesus Himself, who reconciled us to God through His sacrifice on the cross. As we follow Him, we are invited to bring peace wherever we go and to help others find peace with God. [06:20]

Matthew 5:9-12 (ESV)
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Reflection: Where in your life right now is there conflict or tension that you could help to diffuse or heal, even if it means making a personal sacrifice for the sake of peace?

Day 2: Righteous Living May Bring Persecution

Choosing to do what is right in God’s eyes—living righteously—often means going against the flow of culture and can lead to misunderstanding, ridicule, or even outright persecution. Jesus warned His followers that living for Him would not always be easy, but He also promised that those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake are blessed and have a great reward in heaven. Standing firm in faith and integrity, even when it costs us, is part of following Jesus. [15:02]

Matthew 5:10-12 (ESV)
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Reflection: Is there a situation where you are tempted to compromise your integrity or faith to avoid conflict or discomfort? What would it look like to stand for what is right, even if it costs you?

Day 3: Compromise Erodes Righteousness

Small compromises in truth or integrity can quickly lead us away from living the righteous life God calls us to. Even seemingly harmless “white lies” or going along with wrongdoing to avoid trouble can set us on a slippery slope. God calls us to pursue righteousness wholeheartedly, trusting Him with the consequences, and to resist the temptation to take the easy way out. [26:43]

Proverbs 4:25-27 (ESV)
“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”

Reflection: Think of a recent moment when you were tempted to “just go along” with something you knew wasn’t right—how could you respond differently next time to stay true to God’s standard?

Day 4: Our Greatest Task Is Reconciling Others to God

While bringing peace to relationships and communities is important, the most significant peacemaking we can do is to help others be reconciled to God through Jesus. Every believer is entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, sharing the good news that Jesus has made a way for us to be restored to God. This is the most lasting and vital peace we can offer anyone. [31:38]

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (ESV)
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

Reflection: Who in your life might God be prompting you to reach out to, to share the hope and peace found in Jesus? How can you take a step toward that today?

Day 5: Our Hope and Reward Are Eternal

The challenges, persecution, and sacrifices we face for following Jesus are real, but they are temporary compared to the eternal reward God promises. Jesus calls us to rejoice—not because suffering is pleasant, but because our hope is anchored in the promise of heaven and the assurance of His presence. Keeping our eyes on eternity helps us endure hardship with joy and faithfulness. [30:04]

Romans 8:18 (ESV)
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Reflection: When you face discouragement or opposition for your faith, how can you remind yourself of the eternal perspective and the hope you have in Christ?

Sermon Summary

This morning’s focus is on the final Beatitudes, where Jesus calls us to be peacemakers and to expect persecution for the sake of righteousness. The call to be a peacemaker is not just about resolving conflicts between people, but also about helping others find peace with God through Jesus Christ. Jesus himself is the ultimate peacemaker, reconciling humanity to God by taking upon himself the punishment for our sins. This act of sacrificial love is the model for how we are to approach peacemaking in our own lives—sometimes requiring us to lay down our rights or comfort for the sake of others.

Peacemaking is a practical calling. It means diffusing tension in our homes, workplaces, and communities, rather than inflaming situations. It also means actively seeking opportunities to introduce others to Jesus, so they too can be reconciled to God. The ministry of reconciliation is not reserved for a select few; it is the responsibility of every follower of Christ.

However, Jesus is clear that living righteously and following him will not always be easy. In fact, he warns that persecution, insults, and false accusations will come precisely because we are living according to his ways. This is not a sign of failure, but rather a confirmation that we are walking in the footsteps of Christ and the prophets before us. The reality of persecution is not just a distant or historical issue—today, millions of Christians around the world face real suffering for their faith.

Yet, Jesus offers a profound promise: “Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven.” Our perspective must shift from the temporary discomforts and injustices of this life to the eternal reward that awaits us. The call is not to seek out suffering, but to remain faithful and joyful even when it comes, knowing that our ultimate hope is secure in Christ.

For those who have not yet accepted Jesus, the invitation is open. Acknowledge your need for reconciliation with God, accept the gift of salvation through Christ, and begin the journey of following him as both Savior and Lord. This is the greatest decision anyone can make, and it is the foundation for true peace—both now and for eternity.

Key Takeaways

1. Peacemaking is both a calling and a sacrifice. True peacemakers don’t just avoid conflict; they actively seek to restore relationships, sometimes at personal cost. Jesus’ own life and death are the ultimate example of peacemaking, reconciling us to God and calling us to do likewise in our daily lives. [06:20]
2. The ministry of reconciliation is central to the Christian life. Beyond resolving human disputes, our greatest task is to help others find peace with God through Christ. Every believer is entrusted with this ministry, serving as Christ’s ambassadors wherever we are placed. [11:34]
3. Righteous living will inevitably bring opposition. When we choose to do what is right in God’s eyes, we will sometimes face misunderstanding, false accusations, or even hostility. This is not a sign to retreat, but a reminder that we are aligned with Christ, who himself was persecuted for righteousness’ sake. [15:02]
4. Compromise in small things leads to greater compromise. The temptation to “just go along” or tell a small lie may seem harmless, but it erodes our commitment to righteousness. Faithfulness in the little things is essential to maintaining integrity and a clear witness to the world. [26:43]
5. Our hope and reward are eternal, not earthly. The promise of Jesus is not that life will be easy, but that our suffering for his sake is not in vain. We are called to rejoice—not in the pain itself, but in the assurance that our reward in heaven far outweighs any temporary hardship we endure here. [28:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:05] - Introducing the Greatest Miscarriage of Justice
[02:30] - Reading the Beatitudes: Matthew 5:9-12
[03:28] - The Beatitudes: Jesus’ Manifesto
[05:14] - The Need for Peacemakers Today
[06:20] - Jesus: The Ultimate Peacemaker
[07:27] - The Cost and Example of Peacemaking
[10:10] - Diffusing Conflict in Everyday Life
[11:34] - The Twofold Task of Peacemaking
[14:16] - Understanding Persecution for Righteousness
[16:41] - The Weatherfield One: A Case Study in Injustice
[18:48] - 365 Million Christians Persecuted
[21:00] - The Reality of Being Lied About
[26:43] - The Slippery Slope of Compromise
[28:02] - Rejoicing in Persecution and the Promise of Heaven
[33:49] - Invitation to Receive Jesus
[35:51] - Responding to the Call of Salvation
[38:33] - Next Steps and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 5:9-12 (ESV) — 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Observation Questions

According to Jesus in Matthew 5:9-12, what are the specific blessings promised to peacemakers and to those who are persecuted for righteousness?
In the sermon, what two main areas did the pastor say peacemaking applies to in our lives? ([11:34])
What examples did the pastor give of situations where Christians might face persecution or be lied about? ([21:00])
How does Jesus describe the attitude we should have when we are persecuted for following Him? ([28:02])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus connect peacemaking with being called “children of God”? What does this reveal about God’s character and our calling as His followers? (Matthew 5:9)
The pastor said that peacemaking sometimes requires us to lay down our rights or comfort for the sake of others. Why might this be necessary, and how does this reflect Jesus’ own example? ([07:27])
The sermon mentioned that persecution is not a sign of failure but a confirmation that we are walking in the footsteps of Christ and the prophets. How should this perspective change the way we view opposition or hardship for our faith? ([15:02])
The pastor warned that small compromises can lead to bigger ones. Why is faithfulness in “little things” so important for maintaining integrity as a Christian? ([26:43])

Application Questions

The pastor shared a story about diffusing tension at home and in public situations. Think of a recent conflict you’ve witnessed or been part of—how could you have acted as a peacemaker in that moment? What would it have cost you? ([10:10])
Who in your life right now needs to be reconciled to God? What is one practical step you could take this week to introduce them to Jesus or help them move closer to faith? ([11:34])
Have you ever experienced misunderstanding, insults, or false accusations because of your faith or for doing what is right? How did you respond, and what might you do differently in light of Jesus’ teaching? ([21:00])
The pastor talked about the temptation to “just go along” or tell a small lie to avoid trouble. Can you think of a recent situation where you were tempted to compromise your integrity? What would it look like to choose faithfulness instead? ([26:43])
Jesus says to “rejoice and be glad” when we face persecution because our reward is in heaven. What helps you keep an eternal perspective when life is hard or unfair? Is there a specific promise or truth that encourages you? ([28:02])
The sermon ended with an invitation to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. If you have already made that decision, how are you living out both the “Savior” and “Lord” aspects of your faith? If you haven’t, what questions or hesitations do you have? ([35:51])
The pastor said that the ministry of reconciliation is not just for a select few, but for every believer. What is one way you can be an “ambassador for Christ” in your workplace, school, or community this week? ([11:34])

Sermon Clips

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing in your life, it is within your power to be a peacemaker. You see, we have the greatest example of a peacemaker in the form of Jesus. Jesus actually came to perhaps perform the greatest moment of peacemaking. Peacemaking involves reconciling people together, doesn't it? It means bringing communities back together. It means solving angst and arguments and restoring. And Jesus came and did the greatest, or gave us the greatest opportunity for restoration there is known to man. And that was restoring our relationship with God. [00:05:45] (48 seconds) #PowerOfPeacemaking

The hard truth is, all of us are sinners. We've all done things that fall short of the glory of God. And that is essentially what sin is. And so that sin, that sin in our lives has damaged our relationships with God. And Jesus came, one, to give us an example of how to live, but ultimately his main purpose was to die on the cross, to take the punishment for sin, so that we could be reconciled to God if we accepted Jesus, if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. [00:07:11] (37 seconds) #SinSeparatesReconciliationRestores

If you live a life focused on God, the enemy is going to push back. If you focus on doing what is right, which we should be doing, then we have to expect the enemy is going to push back. Living a life that is righteous is going to lead to people lying about you. Because if all you do is do what God says and you live a good, I say good life, but a life that is honouring God, then they're going to have nothing to complain about you to other people. So they're going to lie, they're going to make things up. They can't criticise the truth, so they're going to create a lie. [00:20:14] (50 seconds) #ExpectOppositionForRighteousness

Jesus closes this section of the Sermon on the Mount, this moment with the Beatitudes by reminding those who he's preaching to. And he's predominantly, almost exclusively preaching at this point to a Jewish audience so they would know what he's talking about. He reminds them that they, the Jewish people, persecuted the prophets that came before Jesus. And actually, in fact, although they wouldn't have realized it, at that time maybe it...in his ministry Jesus was going to be persecuted himself and lied about and actually take that, go die on the cross for us for nothing he had done but for something or things that we do. [00:27:08] (53 seconds) #RejoiceInHeavenlyReward

Rejoice is an attitude. Rejoice means how do we look on life? What do we do? How do we approach it? And we can rejoice because we know we have our reward in heaven. [00:30:00] (21 seconds) #PrepareForUnjustPersecution

We are to be peacemakers. We are to look for opportunities to bring peace to our relationships, peace to situations that we come across in work, in home life, in society. We're not all going to be called to be massive negotiators of truces between countries. But we can play our part wherever we find ourselves as peacemakers in our societies. [00:30:42] (30 seconds) #FaithJourneyUnchanged

All of us must, must play our role in being peacemakers in restoring humanity to God. You see, we can stop a war. That would be a fantastic win. We can stop a war between two nations. But if they're not reconciled, if people, individuals, are not reconciled to God, then they're still going to suffer hell when they die. Our most surely, our most important task in peacemaking is restoring people to a right relationship with God. [00:31:12] (35 seconds) #FaithOverFearOfPersecution

What does that mean? It means that you're acknowledging that you are a sinner. We have all done things that have damaged our relationship with God. We can't escape that. That is the truth. But the truth is equally that God sent his son, Jesus, to die on the cross. He was innocent. He is the only person that has lived a perfect life. He was without sin and he died on the cross, taking the punishment for all the sins of the world. Past, present and future sins. And he died on that cross. And three days later, God rose him from the dead. He came alive again. Death was defeated. [00:34:07] (56 seconds)

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