• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Lifeway Voices

Lifeway Voices

Trustworthy, Christian perspectives on life

  • Sections
    • Bible & Theology
    • Discipleship & Evangelism
    • Church Ministry & Leadership
    • Marriage & Family
    • Culture & Current Events
  • Videos
  • Podcasts
  • About
  • Shop
Bible & Theology | Videos

Happy Are the Peacemakers

by Dr. Derwin L. Gray | August 18, 2020

Pastor and author Dr. Derwin L. Gray believes there is a better road to happiness, and it is found in the Beatitudes of Jesus. In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus revealed the shocking, countercultural path to true flourishing. It comes not through wealth, fame, or laughter but through poverty, obscurity, and mourning. In this excerpt from his new Bible study, The Good Life, Derwin looks at what it means to be a peacemaker today.

 

Happy are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).

God is interested in making peace. There’s something about peacemaking. And what I love about God is He doesn’t ask us to do something that He first has not done Himself. That when Jesus of Nazareth comes—fully God, fully man—when He comes to humanity, it’s a peace offering saying, I’m going to liberate us from sin and death and evil. I’m going to remove shame and guilt.

The apostle Paul even goes as far as to say that even while yet we were enemies of God, we become God’s friends through Jesus (Romans 5:6-8). That what He did on the cross wipes away our sin, clears our record, but it also says “you have peace with Me.”

So one of the likenesses of following Jesus: The good life means we engage in peacemaking.

We live in a time in our country where it is incredibly divided. One of the old tactics of war, is if you ever want to make a friend, find somebody that disagrees with you and make them an enemy and those who agree with you will become your friends. We live in a political age like that now.

So let me ask you a question: If Jesus was to sit down with you as you navigate Facebook, as you navigate Instagram—if Jesus was to sit down with you as you navigate social media, would He see you as a person making peace? Are you a peacemaker? Are you a bridge builder for God’s kingdom?

In Matthew 5:44, Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Why does Jesus tell us to do that? It’s because we are reflecting the grace that we have received. But also when you and I love our enemies, it’s healing to us. Our hearts were not designed to carry hurt. Our hearts were not created to carry bitterness. Our hearts were not created to carry hate. We were created t0 be conduits of the same mercy and grace that we’ve received.

The apostle Paul says this in Romans 12:19-21. He says this, “Friends, do not avenge yourselves, instead leave room for God’s wrath because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me. I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in doing so you’ll be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.”

That’s the good life. The good life is a life in which we find happiness and pleasure from trusting God to be who God’s called us to be. Instead of being reactionary to those who’ve harmed us or wounded us, we’re responsive to the One who’s forgiven us.

So, are you and I making peace through our lives because we have peace with God? Are we looking for ways to make peace? Because that correlates to our happiness. Happy are the peacemakers.

Find more from Derwin Gray at Lifeway.com
God, Do You Hear Me?

God, Do You Hear Me?

Through the pages of this book, pastor and bestselling author Derwin Gray will journey with you, in learning and living the prayer that God always answers. This prayer is commonly called the Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6:9-13). The Lord’s Prayer is the firm foundation God uses to build our lives on the Rock. It will help you break through to a completely new and refreshing prayer life.

FIND OUT MORE

Related Reads

About Dr. Derwin L. Gray

Dr. Derwin L. Gray is the founding and lead Pastor of Transformation Church, a multiethnic, multigenerational, mission-shaped community just south of Charlotte, North Carolina. After graduating from Brigham Young University, Derwin played professional football in the NFL for five years with the Indianapolis Colts (1993-1997) and one year with the Carolina Panthers (1998). In addition to his role at Transformation Church, Derwin speaks at conferences nationwide. He is the author of Hero: Unleashing God’s Power in a Man’s Heart (2010), Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future (2013), Crazy Grace for Crazy Times (2015), and The High-Definition Leader (2015).

Contact

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

© 2025 Lifeway Christian Resources | FAQ