Peace Making vs. Peace Keeping

"And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace" (James 3:18).

If you're like me, then you've said more than once . . . "why do I have to be the person to make things right, and apologize." Oh brother, how many times have I said that, and if I've not audibly said it, then how many times have I thought it? Oh, I usually go on ahead and do the right thing, simply because it is the right thing . . . well, that, and the fact that I have an over active conscience that demands, even insists, on humbling myself and doing what is right.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm usually not liking it one bit and it certainly doesn't come any easier to me than it does to you! As I've heard before "I may be standing up on the outside, but I'm sitting down on the inside!" I have a feeling that this isn't really the attitude that I'm supposed to have, or that the Lord requires of a peace maker is it?

This verse from the book of James is clear that peace making is the fruit of the seed of righteousness. Therefore, if I want to be a righteous child of God, then I will be a peace maker, whether I like it or not!

Let me be clear about this however, peace making is not peace keeping. What do I mean by that? I know people who hate confrontation, and who would rather just ignore a situation, as though it doesn't exist, thinking that if they don't look at it, it will eventually just go away. And, I know others who think that trying to keep eveyone happy, exhausing themselves to keep the peace on all sides is the right way to go. When actually, neither of those two things are what we are called to do.

My mother used to that sometimes a "blow up, clears the air." I don't mean we are to stir up trouble, but I am saying that when trouble already abounds, we should face it, deal with it, and settle it. That is peace making, but it is not peace keeping. In order to be the kind of peace maker that God would have us to be, we first need to examine self. We need to take a good long look at our own agenda, our own wrong doing, or our own motives for who, and why, we are ready to confront. We need to spend sufficient time in prayer asking that God would resolve in us any selfish ambition regarding the situation. We need to pray long and hard that God would give us love for the person and understanding for their postion (right or wrong) of the others involved. It doesn't matter if we like the person or their behavior, we are still called to love even the unlovable. Then, when we are ready, and our heart is right, we humble ourselves and become a peace maker!