BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS 9.7.25

September 8th, 2025

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

Peace is at the very heart of God’s plan for His people. Throughout Scripture, we see God’s desire for wholeness, harmony, and restoration—what the Bible calls shalom. Peace is not simply the absence of conflict; it is the fullness of life as God intended it.

Yet peace doesn’t just happen. Jesus doesn’t say blessed are the peace-lovers, but he says blessed are the peacemakers. True peace requires effort, intentionality, and practice. Like a garden, our relationships must be tended—or weeds of bitterness, resentment, and strife will grow.

We are reminded that our struggle is not with people but with the powers of evil that seek to divide and destroy. That perspective changes everything. Instead of fighting for our “own castle,” we are called to reflect our Father’s heart by sowing peace wherever we go.

God Himself has modeled this for us. While we were still sinners—enemies of God—He made peace with us through Christ. As His children, we now live in such a way that others can say, “There’s no denying you are your Father’s child.”

REFLECT |

Where are “weeds” of conflict, bitterness, or misunderstanding growing in your life right now?
How can you intentionally sow seeds of peace this week—in your home, at work, or in your community?
Who is God calling you to love, bless, or pray for, even if they have hurt you?

BIBLE VERSES

Key Verses are denoted with an *

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DAY 1 | UNDERSTANDING TRUE PEACE

When we hear the word 'peace,' we often think of the absence of conflict—a cease-fire, a quiet moment, or the end of an argument. But God's vision of peace is so much richer. In the Beatitudes, Jesus points to peacemakers as those who reflect God's very character. This isn't about avoiding conflict at all costs or maintaining a superficial calm. The biblical concept of peace—shalom—encompasses wholeness, wellness, and harmony. It's about relationships functioning as God intended, with love and truth at their center. This kind of peace doesn't just happen; it requires intentional effort and divine wisdom. In our broken world, conflict is the default setting. Peace is the miracle that breaks through when we allow God's Spirit to work through us. When we pursue true peace, we're not just solving problems—we're participating in God's redemptive work of restoring what was broken. Today, consider where God might be calling you to be a peacemaker. Is there a relationship that needs healing? A misunderstanding that needs clarity? Remember that pursuing peace isn't weakness—it's one of the most powerful ways we can demonstrate that we are children of God.

BIBLE VERSE |
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." - Matthew 5:9

REFLECTION QUESTION |
In what area of your life do you need to move beyond simply avoiding conflict to actively cultivating true peace and wholeness?

QUOTE |
"The biblical concept of peace is much deeper than that. It's much richer, much fuller than that. It's not just what is lacking, what is absent. Peace is about wholeness. Peace is about wellness. Peace is about harmony."

PRAYER |
Heavenly Father, thank you for the peace you offer that goes beyond what this world can give. Help me understand what true biblical peace looks like and give me the courage to be a peacemaker in my relationships. Show me where I can bring your shalom today. Amen.

DAY 2 | PEACE REQUIRES PRACTICE

Have you ever noticed how quickly a garden can become overrun with weeds when left unattended? Our relationships work the same way. Without intentional care and attention, they don't naturally thrive—they tend to collect misunderstandings, assumptions, and hurts that choke out connection. Jesus didn't call us to be peace-wishers or peace-hopers. He called us to be peace-makers. The very word implies action, effort, and intention. Peace is something we must actively create and maintain through consistent practice. This practice might look like having that difficult conversation instead of letting resentment build. It might mean being the first to apologize or choosing to assume the best about someone's intentions. It could involve setting healthy boundaries or extending forgiveness when it's difficult. Peace doesn't just happen in the big moments of reconciliation—it's built in the small, daily choices to listen well, speak truthfully in love, and honor the image of God in others. When we commit to these practices, we're not just improving our relationships; we're participating in God's work of restoration in a fractured world.

BIBLE VERSE |
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." - James 3:17-18

REFLECTION QUESTION |
What specific peace-making practice could you incorporate into your daily life this week, and how might it transform your relationships?

QUOTE |
"Peace is not the natural state in a fallen creation. It is not the default. This is not where the engine idles. Instead, making peace a reality takes intentionality. It takes effort. The bottom line is, peace takes practice."

PRAYER |
Lord, forgive me for the times I've been passive about peace. Help me to be intentional in cultivating healthy relationships through your wisdom and strength. Give me courage to practice peacemaking even when it's difficult, knowing that you are pleased when I reflect your character in this way. Amen.

DAY 3 | RECOGNIZING THE REAL ENEMY

In the heat of conflict, it's easy to see the person across from us as the enemy. Their words hurt us, their actions frustrate us, and their perspectives challenge us. But Scripture gives us a profound reframing: our struggle is not against flesh and blood. When we view other people as the enemy, we position ourselves to fight against them rather than for them. We become focused on winning arguments instead of winning hearts. We forget that the person who has wounded us is also someone created in God's image and deeply loved by Him. True peacemaking begins with recognizing that our real battle is against the forces that divide us—pride, misunderstanding, bitterness, and the spiritual forces that delight in broken relationships. When we shift our perspective, we can stand shoulder to shoulder with others against these common enemies rather than standing against each other. This doesn't mean we ignore harmful behavior or avoid setting boundaries. Rather, it means we approach conflict with the awareness that the person before us is not our enemy but someone Jesus died to save. This perspective changes everything about how we engage in difficult conversations and pursue reconciliation.

BIBLE VERSE |
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." - Ephesians 6:12

REFLECTION QUESTION |
How might your approach to a current conflict change if you truly saw the other person not as your enemy but as someone God loves deeply?

QUOTE |
"Our fight is not with flesh and blood. Our fight is not with people. It is with the evil that deceives and destroys people."

PRAYER |
God, forgive me for the times I've treated others as enemies rather than seeing them through your eyes. Help me to recognize the real forces that divide us and give me wisdom to fight against those instead. Show me how to love difficult people while still maintaining healthy boundaries. Amen.

DAY 4 | CHILDREN REFLECT THEIR FATHER

Have you ever noticed how children often mirror their parents' mannerisms, phrases, and values? There's something powerful about the parent-child relationship that naturally leads to imitation. Jesus draws on this reality when He says peacemakers will be called children of God. When we make peace, we're not earning God's love or favor. Rather, we're displaying the family resemblance. We're showing that we belong to a Father who is the ultimate Peacemaker—One who crossed the greatest divide to reconcile with His creation while we were still His enemies. This identity as God's children transforms our motivation for peacemaking. We're not making peace to gain approval or to check a spiritual box. We're making peace because it's who we are as members of God's family. It's in our spiritual DNA. Today, consider how your peacemaking efforts might be the clearest evidence of your relationship with God. When others observe how you handle conflict, resolve differences, and build bridges, do they see a family resemblance to your heavenly Father? Our peacemaking becomes a powerful testimony to whose children we truly are.

BIBLE VERSE |
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." - Romans 5:1

REFLECTION QUESTION |
In what ways can your approach to conflict and reconciliation more clearly demonstrate that you are a child of the God of peace?

QUOTE |
"We should live in a way that has people saying, there is no denying that you are your father's daughter. There is no denying that you are your father's son. I see it so clearly in you. You're just like him."

PRAYER |
Father, thank you for adopting me into your family and giving me your name. Help me to represent you well by how I make peace in my relationships. May others see your character reflected in my words and actions, especially in moments of tension or disagreement. I want to look more like you every day. Amen.

DAY 5 | PEACE RECEIVED BEFORE PEACE EXTENDED

We cannot give what we do not have. This simple truth applies profoundly to peacemaking. Before we can effectively bring peace to our relationships, workplaces, and communities, we must first receive peace from God ourselves. God initiated peace with us when we were still His enemies. While we were running from Him, He was running toward us. While we were at war with Him, He was implementing His peace plan through Jesus Christ. This divine peace—reconciliation with our Creator—becomes the wellspring from which all our peacemaking efforts flow. When we're secure in God's peace, we can approach conflict differently. We don't need to defend ourselves at all costs because our identity is secure. We don't need to win every argument because our worth isn't determined by being right. We can listen generously, speak truthfully in love, and pursue reconciliation even when it's difficult. If you're struggling to be a peacemaker, consider whether you've fully received God's peace. Have you allowed His forgiveness and acceptance to penetrate the depths of your heart? Are you resting in His love? The more deeply we experience peace with God, the more naturally we'll extend peace to others.

BIBLE VERSE |
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8

REFLECTION QUESTION |
How has experiencing peace with God changed your ability to extend peace to others, especially in difficult relationships?

QUOTE |
"To make peace, we have to have peace. If you're going to be a peacemaker, you first have to have peace. We can only give out of what has been given to us."

PRAYER |
Lord Jesus, thank you for making peace with me when I was still your enemy. Help me to fully receive and rest in the peace you offer. Let your peace so fill my heart that it overflows into all my relationships. Use me as your instrument of peace in a world that desperately needs it. Amen.

ACTION STEP

This week, identify one relationship or situation in your life where peace is lacking. Instead of waiting for peace to happen naturally, take intentional steps to be a peacemaker. This might mean initiating a difficult conversation, offering forgiveness, listening without judgment, or praying for someone who has hurt you. Remember that as God's child, you're called to reflect His peacemaking character. Journal about your experience.

PRAYER

Father God, thank You for being the ultimate Peacemaker who reconciled with us through Jesus while we were still Your enemies. We confess that too often we've been peace-takers rather than peacemakers. Fill us with Your peace that surpasses understanding, and empower us to cultivate peace in our relationships. Help us to pull out the weeds of bitterness, resentment, and misunderstanding, and to plant seeds of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. May others see Your character reflected in us as we make peace this week. We pray this in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.

BIBLE APP PLANS

Peacemaking 101
7 Days – Anina Mc Arthur
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:3, NLT). If peace is something that needs to be made or created, how do we do it? In this Plan, we will take a systematic approach to learn how to bring peace to the world around us.

Peacemaker
3 Days – Holly Wagner
Did you know that we are called to be a peacemaker? Find out how we can live this each and every day in this four-day devotional from Holly Wagner.

Peace In Chaos (Youth)
3 Days – Jen Weaver
Life with kids is a lot—juggling schedules, managing emotions, and trying to stay connected with God when everything feels chaotic. This 3-day plan from Bible teacher Jen Weaver helps you discover God's presence even when life feels heavy or uncertain. Each day includes simple "Kid Connection" moments to naturally share what you're learning with your elementary-aged child. Zero prep required—just practical ways to overcome stress and experience God's peace in the midst of real family life.