Peacekeepers

Personalities, Day 1

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 (NIV)

              When I was in fourth grade, there was a huge campaign that started. We received cups, rulers, bracelets, and pencils: The Smoke-Free Class of 2000. As a nine-year old, I couldn’t understand why anyone in my grade would ever want to smoke to begin with. Neither of my parents smoked, both sets of my grandparents quit smoking when grandkids came along, so I didn’t understand what all the hype was about.

              Then I entered middle school. There was no way we would ever be The Smoke-Free Class of 2000. Not only did some of my peers sneak cigarettes in the bathrooms, but many of them were rolling their own marijuana and toking on a regular basis.

              Looking back, the shift happened about seventh grade. Older siblings influenced younger ones. Parents allowed their kids more freedom. Weekend parties became a regular thing. And “going all the way” with girlfriends or boyfriends was suddenly a hot topic that accompanied the rebellion of smoking. My sheltered brain couldn’t comprehend and my peacekeeping nature was at war with itself. What seemed like such an achievable goal three years earlier now seemed like it was never even presented as a possibility at all.

              One of the struggles with peacekeepers is they honestly want peace. They can’t stand confusion or contention and will tactfully avoid confrontation like the plague. Always careful with words, peacekeepers often insert themselves into potentially contentious situations ahead of time in order to smooth things over with both parties because they cannot handle strife. This can relate to family situations, friendships, or school interactions.

              For me, peace meant a sense of calm, no arguing, underhanded jabs, or outright attacks. It meant rule following, kindness, and respect for the feelings of others. And when my middle school peers began influencing my closest friends, the need to keep the peace weighed heavy on my shoulders. My friends sneaking around, smoking, drinking, and experimenting sexually meant that their parents might find out, which meant turmoil and contention. I tried talking sense into them, but when that didn’t work, I urged them not to burn bridges with their parents. I hated the drama they were creating in our friendship circles, and I found myself constantly working harder on fixing them than they cared to do for themselves.

              As an adult, I learned that peacekeepers often become codependent, and that’s what I became. A fixer. A rescuer. A therapist. An advisor. Which none of them asked for. I took the position upon myself to help with my level of peace inside.

              Sadly, this wasn’t real peace; this was contrived peace. Real peace, as we will see in today’s scripture, doesn’t mask, hide, or make excuses for behavior, instead real peace confronts and takes a stand. In the Bible, Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. He came to be our peace. Real peace means being reconciled to him by admitting our sins, asking for and accepting Christ’s forgiveness, and repenting of those sins that caused a separation between us and God. Then, we turn away from that life and place our full trust and allegiance in the life of Jesus Christ and we vow to never go back. He becomes our peace.

Do the Heart Work

1.      Who are the peacekeepers in your life?

2.      What does real peace look like in your life?

3.      Who are the kids who have peacekeeping tendencies in your classroom?

Digging Deeper 

Read Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

              For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.  

Read Luke 12:49-53 (NIV)

 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Why would Jesus, called the Prince of Peace, who’s reign of peace would last forever say that he came to divide houses and families against one another? Because his peace isn’t a false sense of peace. His peace cuts to the heart and fosters real freedom, contentment, and peace. Everyone in our families will not accept Christ, and that is where the dividing line happens. Real peace confronts issues and sins. Real peace leads to real freedom.

If You Get Spare Time

              Did you know, according to Galatians 5, peace is a fruit of the spirit? That means that we cannot create peace in our lives, we have to depend on the power of the Holy Spirits to do that. Real peace comes from God. It’s nothing we can muster, conjure, or create. Quiet doesn’t equal peace. Calm doesn’t equal peace. Only Jesus equals peace. Consider what your definition of peace has always been and ask God to help you turn to him for peace.