"Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness" (James 3:18).
Growing up, I tried to remain at peace with everyone around me. Sometimes, this caused me to go along with things that I shouldn't have, yet my goal was to maintain peace. When we examine the Bible and its emphasis on peace, we begin to understand that being a peacemaker does not mean we allow people to use us as a doormat. Although this is common, we should not allow people to exploit our kindness.
Being a peacemaker means that we try to preserve the peace of the Lord. If anyone tries to advocate peace without the Lord, we know their efforts will be futile. Peace comes from the Lord, and it is non-existent without Him (John 14:27). The peace that the Lord gives will never waver or fade away. It will always be present with us, and it surpasses our own understanding (Philippians 4:7).
When we strive to be peacemakers in our own lives, we must remember that peacemakers seek to maintain peace, not at their own expense. As mentioned, many people will try to abuse our efforts. Instead of being kind and considerate, they will use us. God doesn't want this to happen; therefore, we must become more knowledgeable about peacemakers.
As we are trying to be peacemakers, we need to reflect on the Bible. Being peaceful doesn't mean everyone will get along with us, but it does mean that we will try to live at peace with all people (Romans 12:18). We will not start useless arguments or problems (Philippians 2:12-16). Instead, we will strive to achieve peace and maintain it.
Just because we think we might have obtained peace doesn't mean it will last forever. This is why we must try to preserve the peace and to continue to cultivate it. Each day will be a challenge, yet we are not alone in our journey. God will help us as we strive to live in peace with others. Peacemakers bring glory to God because they follow His example.
God is peaceful, loving, and compassionate; however, He is also righteous and holy. God will not tolerate His children being stepped on because they have chosen the way of peace. In the same way, He does not want us to tolerate mistreatment either. If we are living in peace with others and someone is mean to us or abuses our kindness, we don't have to stay in the situation.
We can remove ourselves from this situation and start surrounding ourselves with other peaceful individuals. Unfortunately, those who choose not to be peacemakers can rub off on those who are peacemakers. In this way, many people can be led astray from a life of peace due to the negative influence of others.
It is common for good to be influenced by evil. Therefore, be aware of your limits and refrain from exceeding them. If we are surrounding ourselves with people who are abusive of our kindness, treating us as doormats, or trying to influence us negatively, we need to walk away. Even if we think we can turn these individuals away from their wicked ways, we cannot.
Only God can bring about this change in a person, and the person must be willing to change themselves. This can be a long journey for many people, but one thing we can do is pray for them. We can pray for them to come to know the Lord, to follow the way of peace, and to become peacemakers in their own lives. While this might not sound like much, our prayers can move mountains (Matthew 17:20).
The half-brother of the Lord tells us, "Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness" (James 3:18). As James says in this passage, peacemakers who sow in peace will reap a harvest of righteousness. Sowing in peace means doing everything with a peaceful heart. Never should we try to "get even." Choosing to live at peace with others will extend the Lord's love.
By being peacemakers who sow in peace, we will reap a harvest of righteousness. Being a peacemaker means we avoid useless arguments, we are kind to everyone, and we love as Jesus does. Jesus is the exact embodiment of a peacemaker, and we would do well to follow His example. In fact, He says that peacemakers are children of God (Matthew 5:9). Even though some days will be more complex than others, the Lord will help us become peacemakers.
"Dear Jesus, I want to become a peacemaker who sows in peace, but I'm not sure where to start. Please help me to follow You in everything I do and to bring You glory. Whenever I'm tempted not to be peaceful, I bring my heart back to You. I praise You, and I thank You. Amen."
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/fizkes
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If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Monday, 15 December 2025.
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