This is the third and final part of our look at the Beatitudes.  We only have two more Beatitudes to look at, but they're big ones, and difficult to digest.  Pay careful attention to how to be a peacemaker, and remember, as Christians, we're going to be persecuted.

   'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.'

   Isn't peace another thing that we all want?  Familiar phrases come to mind: 'Peace on Earth,' 'Peace be with you,' 'Peace out,' or just plain 'Peace.'  It's something we wish upon others and ourselves.  So what is it about peace that we want it so badly?  Well, to start, peace is 'freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations' or 'inner contentment; serenity.'  Whoa.  Check out that second definition.  There's that word 'contentment' again.  That's part of the definition of a beatitude, remember?  So when you're wishing peace upon someone, you're blessing them.  And peacemakers are those that help others find contentment, so I think that it's awesome that they should be blessed!  I hate it when people hate me.  That's the time when I want to find contentment in a relationship or someone who will help solve the dispute.  A peacemaker can be very valuable during those times.  No wonder they should be blessed!  Jesus was a peacemaker between God and man and between man and man.  He was humble and meek, using his words to encourage and exhort others without being argumentative.  Instead of telling people what they shouldn't do, Jesus told them positive behaviors that they could do and complimented them on the things they were doing right.  If Jesus told you what a good job you were doing and some focus areas you could improve on, would you get mad at him or would you feel a little 'inner contentment' and 'serenity'?  I don't know about you, but I'd be incredibly happy for weeks afterwards and strive to be better in the focus areas.  So if Jesus were breaking up a fight (our usual idea of a peacemaker), he wouldn't tell the people in the fight they were wrong; he'd tell them the ideas that are right and encourage them to improve in another aspect.  Proverbs 17:14 says, 'Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.'  This means we can also be peacemakers by avoiding conflicts in the first place and by treating others considerately.

   'Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.'

   Don't we always think of the 'persecuted' as those who live overseas in some distant land that doesn't allow freedom of religion?  Even in countries that allow us to be Christians without the government saying we can't, there are people who will persecute us for our beliefs.  Do you ever get picked on at school for being called 'a religious guy/girl'?  That's persecution too.  The biggest example of persecution I keep thinking of and that we can all relate to is Cassie Bernall at Columbine High School.  She died for her beliefs.  When the time came and she had a gun shoved in front of her face and was asked 'Do you believe in God?' she responded, 'Yes, I believe in God.'  She wasn't always this 'on-fire-for-God religious girl.'  But when the time came for her to stand up for her beliefs, for her God, she was firm.  I know a lot of us would like to say we would say 'Yes, I believe in God,' but if the moment came, would we?  Why are we so afraid?  Life with Jesus after being persecuted for Him has to be so much better than this earth.  I assure you, Cassie Bernall has a beautiful crown.  2 Timothy 3:12 says, 'In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.'  So if you're living a godly life, you're going to be persecuted, maybe not so far as death, but still.  To quote a friend, 'Because we share in the sufferings of Christ we will share in the glory of Christ.  We share the rejection of the world, and we will also share in the resurrection of Christ on that Glorious day when Our LORD returns.'  How incredible is that?  Romans 5:3-5 says, 'Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.'  We have hope for the future even when we are persecuted by this world!  Romans 8:28 says, 'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.'  The persecution, no matter how bad it seems now, will be worth it in the end.  I'll finish up with Romans 8:31: 'What, then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?'  Indeed.

  I thought a bit about the conclusion, but I think Max Lucado can conclude this article better than I can.  One of the devotions in his book Grace for the Moment is titled 'Radical Reconstruction.'  Here it is:

   "Rejoice and be glad, because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven." 'Matthew 5:12
   In the Sermon on the mount,'what Jesus promises is not a gimmick to give you goose bumps nor a mental attitude that has to be pumped up at pep rallies.  No, Matthew 5 describes God's radical reconstruction of the heart.  
   Observe the sequence.  First, we recognize we are in need (we're poor in spirit).  Next, we repent of our self-sufficiency (we mourn).  We quit calling the shots and surrender control to God (we're meek).  So grateful are we for his presence that we yearn for more of him (we hunger and thirst).  As we grow closer to him, we become more like him.  We forgive others (we're merciful).  We change our outlook (we're pure in heart).  We love others (we're peacemakers).  We endure injustice (we're persecuted).
   No casual shift of attitude.  It is a demolition of the old structure and a creation of the new.  The more radical the change, the greater the joy.  And it's worth every effort, for this is the joy of God.

   Be blessed, my brothers and sisters in Christ.