Walking as a Peacemaker

Walking as a Peacemaker

 — By M.T. Clark — P-1973, 05/26/2026 —Today’s Audio Podcast 

Today’s Message on YouTube:

Today’s photo of a wide blue summer sky filled with scattered white cumulus clouds — drifting over a tall green corn field comes to us from yours truly, as I captured this simple scene of beauty while walking along Waite Road near my former countryside home in Easton, NY on August 13, 2022.

Well, it’s Tuesday, and I share this peaceful photo as a reminder of the kind of calm the Lord offers to those who walk in the Spirit. Tonight I am looking forward to the final session of our online Grace Course — where we will be working through the lesson on being a peacemaker. Eight weeks of grace teaching come to a close tonight discussing how the peace we receive should also be given. 

Our series, “Walking in the Spirit,” continues today with a truth about the peace of the Spirit-led life.

Walking as a Peacemaker

The Spirit-led life produces peace — and it also produces peacemakers.

These are not the same thing. Peace is the inner state the Holy Spirit cultivates in the believer. Peace is one of the fruit of the Spirit and it not only describes our lives with God, it is part of our purpose: making peace. 

Peacemaking is the outward work the Holy Spirit produces through the believer. The first one is received. The second one is given. Both come from the same Source. Both are essential to walking in the Spirit.

Jesus addressed peacemaking directly in the Sermon on the Mount.  In Matthew 5:9 (NKJV) Jesus said: 

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” 

Notice what Jesus does not say. He does not say “blessed are those who avoid conflict” or “blessed are those who keep the peace at all costs.” 

Peace-keeping and peace-making are not the same thing. Peace-keeping is what we do when we want to avoid trouble. Peace-making is what the Holy Spirit does through us when He brings actual reconciliation into broken places.

Jesus links peacemaking to our family identity — “they shall be called sons of God.” The peacemaker looks like God the Father. The peacemaker carries the family resemblance of the Trinity into a divided world. 

That is why peacemaking is not optional for the Spirit-led believer. It is one of the clearest evidences that we belong to Him.

In Romans 12:18 (NKJV), the Apostle Paul tells us: 

“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” 

That verse has two qualifications built into it. 

If it is possible — because the ability to always make peace is not within our power. The other person may refuse. 

As much as depends on you — because we are only responsible for our own actions and attitudes, not for the outcome. 

The peacemaker does his part and entrusts the rest to the Lord. 

The peacemaker is responsible for offering peace.

The peacemaker is not responsible for the response. 

I have learned this slowly over the years. There were seasons in my life — through a divorce, through ministry transitions, through difficult relationships — when I wanted everyone to be at peace with me, and I confused that desire with what the Lord would have me do. 

The two are not the same. 

Sometimes peacemaking requires speaking a hard truth that disturbs the false peace of pretending nothing is wrong. 

Sometimes peacemaking requires extending forgiveness when no apology has been offered. 

Sometimes peacemaking requires walking away from a conflict you cannot resolve and trusting the Lord to handle what you can’t.

The Holy Spirit’s peace inside us is what makes peacemaking possible outside of us. We cannot give what we do not have. If we are not at peace with God, we will not be effective at making peace with anyone else. 

The work begins on the inside.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) tells us how we are to find God’s peace: 

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 

The peace of God guards your hearts and minds when we have faith in Jesus Christ, give thanks, and talk to God in prayer. 

The Holy Spirit provides the inner life of the believer with peace that the world cannot disturb. When that peace is in place, we are equipped to bring peace into the situations the Lord puts us in — at work, in our families, in our friendships, in our churches, in our communities. 

The peacemaker carries peace with him because the peacemaker has the peace of God within him.

So, Walk as a peacemaker today. 

That does not mean fixing every broken thing. It means carrying the peace of the Holy Spirit into every room you enter and let Him do through you whatever reconciling work He wants to do. 

Sometimes that will mean speaking up. Sometimes that will mean remaining silent. 

It could be praying for someone you can’t help directly or it could mean forgiving someone who is not asking for forgiveness.   

It might not come naturally to us but all of it will be peacemaking directed by the Holy Spirit. 

The Lord did not call us to a quiet life. He called us to a peace-filled life. There is a difference. 

The peace-filled life is loud sometimes. It is uncomfortable sometimes. It is costly sometimes. But it is the life that God wants us to experience and to give to others — and that is the life the Holy Spirit is forming in every believer who is willing to walk in step with Him.

So, keep on walking and talking with God and let His peace follow you wherever you go.  

— M.T.

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“The views, opinions, and commentary of this publication are those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries, or other authors of the other works that may be included in this publication, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the author may represent.”

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