God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9
Have you ever been around someone holding onto bitterness? They are not pleasant people to surround ourselves with, are they? Bitter people bring negativity, frustration, and anger with them wherever they go. Bitterness leaves broken relationships and destruction in its path. It certainly does not reflect the love, peace, and forgiveness of Christ. Instead of living filled with bitterness, Scripture teaches us another way: making peace, or being peace-makers. If we choose to be peace-makers rather than hold on to bitterness, we will point everyone around us to Christ.
Jesus called His followers to promote peace over bitterness in Matthew 5. He said in this passage of Scripture, “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God” (verse 9). Those who “work for peace” are blessed, according to Jesus. Why? We were reminded during the weekend message that those who seek peace reflect their Heavenly Father, the One who brings peace to this world that is riddled with conflict and chaos. He offers the peace this world so desperately seeks. As Christ followers, we get to point the people around us to God's great peace.
Of course, our Heavenly Father is the ultimate example of peace. You see, He had all reason to hold on to bitterness, holding our sins against us. After all, each one of us broke His heart when we gave in to sin. Instead of choosing bitterness, He chose to bring peace by sending Jesus, His one and only Son, to rescue us from sin and death. Shortly before His death on the cross and resurrection, Jesus said to His disciples in John 13, “I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (verses 34-35). How did Jesus love us? He showed just how much He loves us by offering forgiveness and peace with Him when we did not deserve it. Instead of holding onto bitterness for our sins against Him, He chose to make peace by laying down His life and dying on the cross for our sins. This is the love, forgiveness, and peace we are to model for the lost and hurting world around us.
In a world where bitterness is easy to hold on to, we are called to life differently. Christ calls us to be peacemakers by loving others sacrificially and offering His forgiveness. This world is in desperate need of hope and help. Will you choose to model your Heavenly Father’s love and forgiveness instead of holding on to bitterness? If you do, the world around you will be better for it.
Make it your goal today to be a peacemaker. Where there is conflict or potential to give in to bitterness, choose instead to make peace. Choose to reflect your Heavenly Father’s peace everywhere you go today. Don’t forget to ask Him to help you as you seek to do this.
“God, You are a God who brings peace and forgiveness. I praise You for…”
John 13:31-38
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
18 “I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ 19 I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I Am the Messiah. 20 I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”
21 Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”
22 The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. 23 The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” 25 So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 27 When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” 28 None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. 29 Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. 30 So Judas left at once, going out into the night.
31 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. 32 And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. 33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
36 Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”
And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”
37 “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”
38 Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.
Jesus called His followers to promote peace over bitterness in Matthew 5. He said in this passage of Scripture, “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God” (verse 9). Those who “work for peace” are blessed, according to Jesus. Why? We were reminded during the weekend message that those who seek peace reflect their Heavenly Father, the One who brings peace to this world that is riddled with conflict and chaos. He offers the peace this world so desperately seeks. There is no greater hope for followers of Christ than to reflect our Heavenly Father, is there?
Of course, our Heavenly Father is the greatest example of making peace. You see, He had all reason to hold on to bitterness, holding our sins against us. After all, each one of us broke His heart when we gave in to sin. Instead of choosing bitterness, He chose to bring peace by offering forgiveness and love. That is why Jesus said to His disciples in John 13 shortly before His death and resurrection, “I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (verses 34-35). How did Jesus love us? He showed just how much He loves us by offering forgiveness and peace with Him when we did not deserve it. Instead of holding onto bitterness for our sins against Him, He chose to make peace by laying down His life and dying on the cross for our sins. This is the love, forgiveness, and peace we are to model for the lost and hurting world around us.
In a world where bitterness is easy to hold on to, there is a better way: being peacemakers by loving others sacrificially and offering His forgiveness. This world is in desperate need of hope and help. Will you choose to model your Heavenly Father’s love and forgiveness instead of holding on to bitterness? If you do, the world around you will be better for it.
©2026 Sagebrush Church
