Blessed Are the Peacemakers: The "J" in Joy is for Jesus

My beautiful "J is for Jesus" necklace.

My son and daughter-in-law gave me a beautiful Kendra Scott "J" necklace for Christmas. I had it on one day when they FaceTimed. I began to thank them for it. I said something like, "Thank you for the beautiful "J" necklace. I love it! "J" is for Janice."

Without hesitation, my 6-year-old granddaughter corrected me, "'J' is for Jesus, Mimi!" After recovering from this sweet rebuke, I let her know she was exactly right and since that time whenever I wear my "J" necklace, I remind myself "J" is for Jesus! Jesus first, others second and yourself last. This is the way to true J.O.Y.!

I find great comfort in knowing that it is God's desire for His children have joy. True joy.

The book of Psalms begins with the word "Blessed." In Psalm1:1, and in a number of other verses throughout the Old Testament, the word "blessed" means "how happy!" Did you notice the exclamation point? It is not just "how happy." It is "how happy" exclamation point. There is an emphasis on how happy the man who is blessed by God truly is.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9

The word "blessed" in this New Testament verse means "supremely happy." So whether you are a "how happy!" blessed Christian or a "supremely happy" blessed Christian, there seems to me like a lot of happy for the Christian who chooses to yield to the Biblical principles God teaches in His Word. Again, it is God's desire for His children to be full of joy. To be truly happy and blessed.

Yet, I find when there is a lack of peace in our relationships in our homes, churches and communities, we can feel anything but joy! Sadness, despair, and bitterness seem to rule in our lives rather than joy.

The truth is the blessings of God come when we choose God's way over our own way. Remember we are known as disciples of Christ by our love. Furthermore, according to Matthew 5:9 we are called, identified as, the children of God because of our peacemaking ways. The cherry on top is that God's peacemaking ways bring us joy. A joyful, peacemaking Christian is a beacon of their Heavenly Father's love to this lost and dying world.

A peacemaker strives for reconciliation. A key ingredient in reconciliation is without doubt forgiveness. Forgiveness is choosing obedience to God. Our obedience restores our joy.

The Holy Spirit will never lead us to be unforgiving or to seek revenge. An unwillingness to forgive will leave us in a world of hurt, turmoil and torment (Matthew 18:34-35). For our own good and healing, the Holy Spirit will teach us to forgive. I read this recently, "Forgiveness is how we find peace in the midst of hurt and betrayal."

I am a student of the Bible. Definitely not a Bible scholar, but when I think of Jesus telling the disciples that they must forgive 70 times 7 I think of how often a past hurt comes to my mind. The injustice and the offense may not be continuing at the present time, yet the pain of the offense keeps coming up over and over again. So in my mind it feels like a repeat offense. I have learned to forgive again and again the same offense. Continuing to forgive helps me to cast down the imagination that the offense is continuing when it is most certainly not.

Forgiveness is a necessary ingredient to pursuing peace. Are you pursuing peace in your relationships?

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. Psalm 34:14

We can walk in the flesh full of bitterness and brokenness or we can walk in the Spirit filled with JOY that shines for Jesus. And we can do that even if others do not.

Practical Tip # 3

Practice releasing.

Write down the name of a person or a situation that has hurt you.

Hold the paper tight in your hand, squeeze it. Then, release it.

Tell God, “I forgive and I am letting go of bitterness.” 

Each and every time you feel pain from that hurt,

squeeze your hand with that imaginary wad of paper, release it again. 

Forgive again and again.