When we find ourselves in the middle of conflict and arguments, we can decide to do one of two things: we can become a troublemaker or a peacemaker. We can either choose to add to the stress and tension or try to bring a solution. It’s often difficult to step into the middle of a heated argument and try to fix things. So how can we become peacemakers? Here are a few ideas, Peacemakers look for common ground and try to get everyone onto it, their goal is to find a solution where everyone involved wins. Let’s look at the story of Barnabas and Saul of Tarsus. (you can read the full story in Acts 9:19-31) Barnabas, whose name means ‘Son of Consolation’, stood up for the newly converted Saul, who became Paul. The leaders of the church felt threatened by him, and you could hardly blame them. Before his conversion, he’d been hunting down Christians and threatening to have them murdered. But Barnabas wasn’t thinking about Paul’s violent background; he was considering his value to God. In essence, he was thinking, ‘If we can harness and point this man in the right direction, he has the potential to achieve great things for God.’ And he was proved right. Saul the persecutor became Paul the apostle, but not until Barnabas put his own credibility on the line. Peace-making often calls for taking risks. It means evaluating people by their best moments and best qualities, and not by their worst actions and qualities. Peacemakers try to look at the whole picture. They allow themselves to be governed by grace, not petty opinions and temporary conditions. Matthew 5:9 says: ‘blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God’ (NIV). So, let’s resolve to be peacemakers in our world.
