It’s interesting to me that as we strive for being at peace with people in our life, as well as striving to live with the attitudes that Jesus shares with us that are best for us (Matthew 5:3-12)…..our heart starts to be pure. This is the essence of holiness. As we apply God’s wisdom to our lives we “become Holy”. We focus on God and less on ourselves. We start to feel like, and recognize, that we are God’s children. AND, we will start to truly see God in our lives. What does the writer of Hebrews tell us in Hebrews 12:14: “Without holiness, no one will see the Lord”.
The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to, “live at peace with everyone”. Jesus tells us the same in the Beatitudes, Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” WOW, are we doing that? Do we work at being at peace with everyone in our jobs (both employees and customers), in school, at home, and in our family?
Hebrews 12:14 (TNIV)
14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.M
atthew 5:9 (TNIV, Jesus speaking)
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”Matthew 5:8 (TNIV, Jesus speaking)
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God”
How do we make peace with people? Let’s look at a couple of ideas:
Making peace with our children: Define boundaries and enforce discipline so that they clearly know where they stand. DON’T exasperate children but teach them. Build them up and affirm them with love and affection. This makes peace with children.
Making peace with your spouse: This is sometimes the hardest thing to do once peace has been lost. Sometimes it requires mutually agreed upon counseling or help. Making peace with your spouse requires a lot of LISTENING, mutual confession and the desire to rebuild a love that has been left at the wayside. The key is, be committed to work things out, lose the pride, be humble and don’t let quitting be an option.
Making peace with friends: I saw it best put like this, “Making peace with friends includes broadening your mind to include the possibility that someone else’s ideas make sense. It means accepting your friend’s explanation at face value and applying the least hurtful meaning to the offensive words you heard. It means taking a step toward trust, away from anger, and onto an unmarked playing field called vulnerability. That’s the risky price of friendship.”
Making peace should ALWAYS be our aim. Not necessarily “easy” peace”, but strong peace, heard won peace. Be committed to the other person and stay centered on Jesus. Be ready also for the wear and tear that the coming days will bring.
Jesus, indeed, God the Father, is a peacemaker. he never gives up on us and we should never give up on others. That is why Jesus tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” 
To be called a child of something means to be like that something in many ways.
May you work hard at being at peace with everyone in your life on all levels of your life and you recognize and know that you are a child of God. And may your heart become pure as you walk with Jesus and apply His wisdom. May you see God in your life, all around you, embracing you and leading you to a life of fulfillment and peace.