Imagine taking the time to till up the ground for a garden plot, then planting seeds, watering, and fertilizing the ground, only to get frustrated after one day that nothing has grown yet. It would be ridiculous to expect any growth after such a short time. We all know that a harvest only comes after much patience and work. First, there will be a tiny sprout, and then, as long as we do not give up and continue to do our part, that sprout will grow, bear fruit and become something that can eventually be harvested at the right time. To give up after only one day, one week, or even a month is a foolish act.

In the same way, we should not expect any sort of spiritual harvest until the things needed for that future harvest have been planted, watered, and tended to. James used this common biblical metaphor of a farmer and his crop to make a point about both spiritual and practical things his readers needed help with. Peacemakers who sow in peace will reap an eventual harvest of righteousness...if they don't give up or give in. People who plant peace through their words and actions are intentional in bringing peace into situations that are contentious, full of conflict, and division. Peacemakers work towards resolution, reconciliation, and unity. They also work to restore relationships that were broken and lead people out of deception and into truth. Each of these things takes time and a lot of effort. We cannot expect our work as peacemakers to result in a harvest of righteousness overnight. We cannot set the timetable for a coming harvest ourselves. We cannot do what only God can. We choose to continue to do what is right because it is the right and loving thing to do. If we want a future harvest of good things, the best thing to do is to start sowing or planting the right things as soon as possible. Look at your own life through an open and honest lens. What does a peacemaker bring with them when they enter a room? Or when they enter into a contentious situation? How do they carry themselves? What sort of spirit do they walk with? Am I carrying the spirit of a peacemaker?

James answers some of those questions earlier in the passage when he describes wisdom that comes from heaven. It is pure, genuine, peace-loving, considerate, humble, merciful, effective, impartial, and sincere. These are the characteristics of one who wisely acts as an agent of God's perfect peace. Each of these words could also and have been used to describe the character of Jesus. One could say that the best way to bring peace into a situation, whether it is a family conflict, a marriage in shambles, or a workplace division, would be to bring Jesus into that situation. Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of the source of peace... Jesus. A peacemaker brings the message of Jesus into life situations that so desperately need that gospel message. A peacemaker sees the conflict, whatever it is, through spiritual eyes. They begin to plant seeds of healing and reconciliation the same way Jesus would if he were physically present. This can be you. You were called and created to be a peacemaker, agent, and representative of Jesus Christ on this earth, who brings Jesus into places and situations where good news is most needed.