Friday, 18th September 2026
Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文「使人和睦的人有福了！因為他們必稱為神的兒子。」——馬太福音 5:9
馬太福音第四章記載，耶穌開始傳道時說：「天國近了，你們應當悔改！」——馬太福音 4:17
這句話非常重要。因為到了第五章，耶穌所講的八福，就是在告訴門徒：當神的國臨到，一個真正屬神國的人，生命會是怎樣的？當時的猶太人活在羅馬統治之下。他們的世界有政治壓力，有民族張力，也有不同的宗教群體和立場。有人選擇與政權合作。有人強調嚴格守律法。有人期待神介入審判。有人盼望有一天可以擺脫外邦人的統治。他們活在一個充滿不同聲音、不同立場、不同價值的世界裡。
而羅馬世界本身也有一套自己的邏輯：要維持和平，就要有力量。要維持秩序，就要有控制。要處理敵對，就要壓制、征服。就在這樣的世界裡，耶穌說：「天國近了，你們應當悔改。」意思不是只叫人改掉幾個壞習慣。而是叫人重新轉向神，重新用神國的眼光看生命。
所以到了第五章，耶穌不是在教一些零散的人生道理。祂是在重新定義：甚麼叫真正屬於神國的人。祂說：「虛心的人有福了。」「哀慟的人有福了。」「溫柔的人有福了。」「飢渴慕義的人有福了。」「憐恤人的人有福了。」「清心的人有福了。」
昨天我們思想：「清心的人有福了！因為他們必得見神。」——馬太福音 5:8
今天耶穌再往前一步。如果一個人真的看見神，他的生命會不會開始改變？如果一個人真的活在神面前，神的榮光、神的性情，會不會慢慢在他的生命裡留下痕跡？
出埃及記34章29節記載，摩西從西奈山下來的時候：「摩西的面皮因耶和華和他說話就發了光。」摩西不是自己努力讓臉發光。而是因為：他曾經在神面前。
哥林多後書3章18節也說：「我們眾人既然敞著臉得以看見主的榮光……就變成主的形狀，榮上加榮，如同從主的靈變成的。」
所以聖經讓我們看見一條很清楚的生命水流：看見神，被神塑造，然後在世界裡活出神。
今天第七福，就是讓我們看見：一個真正遇見神、被神改變的人，會怎樣在一個充滿衝突和不同價值的世界裡，活出天父的性情。
耶穌說：「使人和睦的人有福了！因為他們必稱為神的兒子。」「使人和睦」原文 eirēnopoioi，不是只指一個性格平和、不喜歡爭吵的人。而是指：主動把和平帶進破裂，把關係帶向恢復的人。所以，要活出神兒女的生命，第一點就是：
一、看見神——真正遇見父
昨天我們講：「清心的人必得見神。」
但看見神，不只是得到一個感動，也不是知道更多關於神的事情。真正看見神，是讓神向我顯明祂自己。讓我看見祂的聖潔。祂的憐恤。祂的恩典。祂的真理。祂的忍耐。祂的和平。摩西來到神面前，從神面前下來時，他身上留下了神榮光的痕跡。
同樣，當我們真正活在神面前，我們也會開始看見：原來我裡面還有很多不像祂的地方。當我看見祂的聖潔，我會看見自己的驕傲。當我看見祂的憐恤，我會看見自己的冷漠。當我看見祂的恩典，我會看見自己多麼容易定罪別人。當我看見祂願意挽回人，我會看見自己很多時候只是想保護自己。
所以真正看見神的人，不會只停在：「今天我很有感動。」而是開始禱告：「父啊，求祢讓我所看見的祢，真正進到我的生命裡。」
因為真正的改變，不是先從方法開始。是先從遇見神開始。
二、被神塑造——讓生命越來越像父
看見神之後，神不只是讓我們認識祂。祂還要塑造我們。哥林多後書3章18節說：「就變成主的形狀，榮上加榮。」這裡講的不是一次性的改變。而是一個持續被神塑造的生命。神更新我們的心思。祂修剪我們的驕傲。祂對付我們的控制。祂醫治我們裡面的苦毒。祂改變我們看人的眼光。祂也改變我們面對傷害、衝突和不同意見的方式。
羅馬書12章2節說：「不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化。」加拉太書5章22至23節也說：「聖靈所結的果子，就是仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、溫柔、節制。」這些都不是外面掛上去的。是裡面的生命長出來的。所以當神不斷塑造我們，祂的和平開始進到我們裡面。祂的溫柔開始進到我們裡面。祂的忍耐開始進到我們裡面。祂的恩慈開始進到我們裡面。
這時候，我們不只是某一次「反應好一點」。而是整個人開始越來越像父。這就是神兒女生命真正的成長。
三、被神分別出來——在世界裡選擇父的方式
這一點非常重要。因為耶穌不是把門徒帶離世界。祂讓他們仍然活在那個充滿羅馬權力、宗教差異、民族張力和不同立場的世界裡。但祂要他們：活得不一樣。這就是「分別出來」。不是離開人群。不是覺得自己比別人屬靈。
而是：同樣活在這個世界裡，卻不再用這個世界的方法生活。當時世界處理敵對，很容易用力量、控制和壓制。不同群體之間，也很容易變成：我們和他們。自己人和敵人。但是耶穌對門徒說：「使人和睦的人有福了。」
祂在同一章後面又說：「要愛你們的仇敵，為那逼迫你們的禱告。這樣就可以作你們天父的兒子。」——馬太福音 5:44–45
這裡就把今天的經文說得更清楚。為甚麼使人和睦的人被稱為神的兒子？因為：兒女會像父。所以今天我們怎樣被分別出來？就是當世界有一套回應方式時，我們選擇父的方式。世界說：「他傷害你，你就還回去。」天父卻問：「你可不可以不要讓傷害繼續從你身上傳出去？」世界說：「你一定要贏。」天父卻問：「你真正要的是贏，還是恢復？」世界說：「不同意你的人就是敵人。」天父卻問：「你可不可以仍然在真理裡愛他？」世界說：「用力量控制局面。」天父卻問：「你可不可以用恩典、真理和愛去影響？」
這就是 peacemaker。不是沒有衝突的人。而是在衝突中，仍然選擇父的方式。不是沒有立場的人。而是在有立場的時候，仍然活出父的性情。不是逃避問題的人。而是在面對問題的時候，不讓世界的方法決定自己。
所以有時我們需要饒恕。有時需要認錯。有時需要講真話。有時需要重新建立界線。有時需要主動走出第一步。但最重要的是：我不是問「這個世界通常怎樣做？」
而是問：「我是神的兒女，我的父會怎樣做？」這就是被神分別出來的生命。也是使人和睦的生命。
總結
耶穌說：「使人和睦的人有福了！因為他們必稱為神的兒子。」祂不是叫門徒只做一個比較溫和的人。祂是在一個充滿衝突、權力、分裂和不同聲音的世界裡，告訴他們：你們既然屬於天國，就要活出另一個國度的生命。昨天：清心的人必得見神。今天：真正看見神的人，會被神塑造；被神塑造的人，會在世界裡被分別出來。所以今天的水流很清楚：看見神。被神塑造。被神分別出來。不是離開世界。而是在世界裡活得不一樣。不是靠自己的修養。而是因為我們長時間活在父面前，被父滋養、被父塑造，最後父的性情開始在我們身上流露出來。
所以今天我們可以問自己：當我面對衝突、誤會、不同意見和傷害時，我仍然是用世界的方式回應，還是選擇父的方式？願我們不只是口裡稱神為父。更願我們每天活在祂面前，被祂光照、被祂塑造、被祂分別出來，直到我們在這個世界裡，真正活出：神兒女的生命。
Key Verse
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
— Matthew 5:9, NKJV
In Matthew 4, Jesus began His public ministry with these words:
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
— Matthew 4:17
This statement is very important.
When we come to Matthew 5 and the Beatitudes, Jesus is showing His disciples what the life of someone who truly belongs to the kingdom of God looks like.
The Jewish people of that time were living under Roman rule.
They faced political pressure, national tension, religious divisions, and many different voices and positions.
The Roman world also had its own way of thinking:
If you want peace, you need power.
If you want order, you need control.
If you want to deal with opposition, you suppress it or defeat it.
But into that world, Jesus said:
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Repentance was not simply about correcting a few bad habits.
It meant turning back to God and beginning to see life from the perspective of His kingdom.
So when Jesus came to the Beatitudes, He was not giving disconnected pieces of life advice.
He was redefining what it means to truly belong to the kingdom of God.
He said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
“Blessed are those who mourn.”
“Blessed are the meek.”
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”
“Blessed are the merciful.”
“Blessed are the pure in heart.”
Yesterday we reflected on:
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
— Matthew 5:8
Today Jesus takes us one step further.
If a person truly sees God, will that person’s life begin to change?
If someone truly lives in the presence of God, will His glory and His character begin to leave a mark on that life?
Exodus 34:29 tells us that when Moses came down from Mount Sinai,
“the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.”
Moses did not try to make his face shine.
It happened because:
He had been in the presence of God.
Second Corinthians 3:18 says:
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
So Scripture shows us a clear spiritual movement:
We see God.
We are shaped by God.
Then we live out God’s life in the world.
The seventh Beatitude shows us what happens when someone has truly encountered God and been changed by Him.
Jesus said:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
The word translated “peacemakers,” eirēnopoioi, does not simply describe people who have a calm personality or who dislike conflict.
It describes people who actively bring peace into broken places and move relationships toward restoration.
So if we want to live as children of God, the first step is this:
- See God — Truly Encounter the Father
Yesterday we reflected on:
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
But seeing God is not merely having a spiritual feeling.
It is not simply knowing more information about Him.
To truly see God is to allow Him to reveal who He is to us.
His holiness.
His mercy.
His grace.
His truth.
His patience.
His peace.
Moses went into the presence of God, and when he came out, the glory of God had left a mark on him.
In the same way, when we truly live in the presence of God, we begin to see how much in us is still unlike Him.
When I see His holiness, I begin to see my pride.
When I see His mercy, I begin to see my lack of compassion.
When I see His grace, I begin to see how quickly I judge others.
When I see His desire to restore people, I begin to see how often I only want to protect myself.
So a person who truly sees God does not simply say:
“I had a wonderful spiritual experience today.”
Instead, that person begins to pray:
“Father, let what I see in You truly enter my life.”
Real change does not begin with a method.
It begins with encountering God.
- Be Shaped by God — Let Your Life Become More Like the Father
After we see God, He does not simply want us to know Him.
He wants to shape us.
Second Corinthians 3:18 says that we are:
“being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.”
This is not a one-time change.
It is a continuing process of being shaped by God.
He renews our minds.
He trims away our pride.
He deals with our need to control.
He heals bitterness within us.
He changes the way we see people.
He changes the way we respond to hurt, conflict, and disagreement.
Romans 12:2 says:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Galatians 5:22–23 says:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
Notice that Scripture calls these things “fruit.”
Fruit is not something we hang on the outside.
It grows from the life within.
So as God continues to shape us,
His peace begins to grow in us.
His gentleness begins to grow in us.
His patience begins to grow in us.
His kindness begins to grow in us.
At this point, it is not simply that we “react better” once in a while.
Our whole life is beginning to become more like the Father.
That is the growth of a child of God.
- Be Set Apart by God — Choose the Father’s Way in This World
This is very important.
Jesus did not remove His disciples from the world.
They still lived in a world shaped by Roman power, religious differences, national tension, and competing values.
But Jesus called them to:
live differently.
This is what it means to be set apart.
It does not mean leaving people.
It does not mean thinking we are more spiritual than others.
It means:
We live in the same world, but we no longer live by the world’s way.
The world around them often dealt with opposition through power, control, and suppression.
Different groups could easily divide people into:
us and them,
our people and our enemies.
But Jesus said:
“Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Later in the same chapter, He said:
“Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”
— Matthew 5:44–45
This helps us understand today’s verse more clearly.
Why are peacemakers called sons of God?
Because:
Children reflect their Father.
So how are we set apart today?
When the world has one way of responding,
we choose the Father’s way.
The world says:
“If someone hurts you, hurt them back.”
The Father asks:
“Can you stop the hurt from continuing through you?”
The world says:
“You must win.”
The Father asks:
“Do you really want to win, or do you want restoration?”
The world says:
“Anyone who disagrees with you is your enemy.”
The Father asks:
“Can you still love that person while standing in truth?”
The world says:
“Use power to control the situation.”
The Father asks:
“Can you influence through grace, truth, and love?”
This is what a peacemaker looks like.
Not someone who never experiences conflict,
but someone who chooses the Father’s way in the middle of conflict.
Not someone who has no convictions,
but someone who still reflects the Father’s character while holding those convictions.
Not someone who runs away from problems,
but someone who refuses to let the world’s methods determine the way they respond.
Sometimes this means forgiving.
Sometimes it means admitting we were wrong.
Sometimes it means speaking the truth.
Sometimes it means establishing healthy boundaries.
Sometimes it means taking the first step.
But the most important question is not:
“What does the world normally do?”
The question is:
“I am a child of God. How would my Father respond?”
This is a life that has been set apart by God.
And this is the life of a peacemaker.
Conclusion
Jesus said:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
He was not simply telling His disciples to become nicer or more peaceful people.
He was speaking to them in a world filled with conflict, power struggles, division, and competing voices, and saying:
You belong to the kingdom of God, so live the life of another kingdom.
Yesterday:
The pure in heart shall see God.
Today:
Those who truly see God will be shaped by Him, and those who are shaped by Him will live differently in the world.
So the flow is clear:
See God.
Be shaped by God.
Be set apart by God.
Not by leaving the world,
but by living differently within it.
Not through self-discipline alone,
but because we remain in the presence of the Father, are nourished by Him, shaped by Him, and gradually begin to reflect His character.
So today we can ask ourselves:
When I face conflict, misunderstanding, disagreement, or hurt, am I still responding in the way of the world, or am I choosing the way of the Father?
May we not only call God our Father.
May we live in His presence, be shaped by Him, and be set apart by Him,
until in this broken world,
we truly live out:
the life of the children of God.
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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