Blessed Are the Peacemakers: Becoming Children of God

Hey there everyone. I'm so glad you're here today. Can you imagine what it would be like if Jesus hopped in the car with you on your way to school? What would he say to get your day started? Right. Let's find out together as we explore how Jesus guides us through our life. Welcome to Carpooling with Jesus. I'm Pastor Justin. And today we're talking about how to be a peacemaker. So buckle up and let's hit the road. In Matthew chapter five, verse nine, Jesus says blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. That's pretty amazing, right? To be called a child of God means you're showing the world what God's family is all about. But what does it mean to be a peacemaker? A peacemaker is someone who helps people get along, calm down, and fix things when there's a fight or an argument. It's kind of like being a bridge, connecting two sides that don't see eye to eye. Think about a time you didn't agree with a friend. Or maybe you saw others fighting. Did you step in and help? If you did, that's being a peacemaker. Instead of making things worse, you brought kindness and understanding to the situation. Jesus says peacemakers are blessed and here's the coolest part, they're called children of God. Why? Because God is the ultimate peacemaker. He brought peace to the world through his son, Jesus. Jesus gave his life and rose again, so we could have peace with God and with each other. So every time we help make peace, we're showing people what God is like. Loving, kind, and bringing everyone together. Being a peacemaker isn't always easy. Sometimes it means doing something hard, like saying I'm sorry, even when it's tough. Other times it might mean stepping in to help your siblings stop arguing or choosing to stay calm and kind when someone says something hurtful to you. Peacemakers don't make things worse. They make things better with love, patience, and understanding. So, how can you be a peacemaker this week? Maybe it's helping two friends figure out a way to get along or saying something kind to make someone feel better at home. It could mean being patient with your little brother or sister instead of arguing back. Here's the cool part. When you're a peacemaker, you're showing people around you, your classmates, teammates, friends, and family that you belong to God's family. Your world might feel small right now, like it's just your school or your sports team, the clubs you're in, but that's okay. God cares about your world. Those are the places where you can make a big difference by bringing peace and kindness. Imagine how amazing it would be if your team worked better together because you helped them calm down after an argument. Or if your class felt more friendly because you chose kind words instead of mean ones. You might think those things are small, but they're not. Every act of peace shows others what God's love looks like. When you choose to make peace, you're living the way God wants, and you're showing your world, your little corner of it, that you're part of his family. That's a pretty big deal. Remember being a peacemaker means spreading kindness and love wherever you go, just like Jesus did. And when you do, you're showing the world, whether it's at school, at practice, at home, that you're part of God's family. How cool is that? Thanks for riding along. Don't miss tomorrow's episode of Carpooling with Jesus, where we turn everyday car rides into a faith filled moment. And parents, if you love this podcast, share it with your parent friends so they can join in on the journey too. And remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. Before you leave the car, talk about this question together. Why do you think it's hard sometimes to make peace with someone?