Peacemakers

Philippians 4:2-3 (NLT)
2 Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.


The Apostle Paul writes to the Philippians about their Christian duties. In these verses Paul points out a specific disagreement between two women, Euodia and Syntyche. Paul asks them to settle their difference and makes an invitation for another to step in and assist in resolving the issue. The women are fellow Christians who have worked for the Lord and are now being distracted by their disagreement.


In the verses above Paul asks for a peacemaker to step in to resolve the argument between Euodia and Syntyche. A peacemaker steps into the middle of an argument, whereas a peacekeeper tries to head off an argument. A peacemaker faces the problem directly, whereas a peacekeeper tries to keep the problem from appearing. A peacemaker is concerned about people and bringing about sound character growth. The peacekeeper is concerned about issues getting out of control, not the people involved. It takes more effort to be a peacemaker than a peacekeeper. The peacemaker has to actively engage those who are in disagreement. The peacemaker works to resolve the issues while the peacekeeper works to keeps the issues from being presented. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” God wants to bring real peace to our lives and not hide the issues. When the issues are hidden they are just left to fester and appear again and again. Do you face issues head on or do you want to hide them? A real peacemaker wants the issues resolved and will do what it takes to make it happen.