Peace

To have inner peace is a great treasure. As Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you (God).” We are out of order until we truly connect with God, and then we will experience peace. Peace involves fulfillment, contentment, and a sense of well-being and of being in order. Many seek satisfaction in things, experiences, or only temporary feelings. The Bible calls this foolish.

Yes, we can have peace with God, but what about with other people? God tells us through the Apostle Paul, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). It is not always possible to be at peace with all people. The lack of peace, however, should not be on our side. We should not be offensive, rude, or inconsiderate, even though the truth is offensive to the natural man. However, some people may be very toxic, and it is best to just pray for them.

Jesus said that to be truly a disciple of his would bring persecution even from our own family. Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:34-38). Some people don’t like God and want to be their own God, and they don’t like the truth of the gospel. Therefore, they attack those who declare the gospel and live it. If you don’t want to face persecution in some ways, some quite outright and others in subtle ways, then don’t become a disciple of Jesus. If you don’t stand for truth, you will fall for lies.

Peace must be closely associated with the truth. There is all kinds of false peace in the world, in relationships, and in the church. People use a false sense of peace when they don’t respectfully communicate or when they just want to avoid conflict. People who don’t have a good reason or logic for their stance often just end up attacking and belittling others. However, as mentioned, truth brings with it conflict.

A lot of leadership in the world is primarily about control to avoid conflict, and yes, even in the church. However, this only builds a lack of trust. Better to work through conflict than avoid it. Unfortunately, the church also practices the cancel culture of the world—if you don’t believe exactly like me, then I cancel you. However, when people don’t practice good communication skills and there is an absence or lack of being a learner, it can become almost impossible. If people are defensive and have to be right rather than dialogue together, it becomes very difficult. Too many people have their identity and ego wrapped up in their view rather than listening and interacting with good reasoning and love. When true dialogue occurs, it is as the Bible says, “ As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17).

Jeremiah, God’s prophet in the Old Testament, said this to the people of his day, and it also applies today:

“Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them,
Everyone is given to covetousness;
And from the prophet even to the priest,
Everyone deals falsely.
They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly,
Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’
When there is no peace.
Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?
No! They were not at all ashamed;
Nor did they know how to blush.
Therefore, they shall fall among those who fall;
At the time I punish them,
They shall be cast down,” says the Lord” (Jeremiah 6:13-15)

The Lord gives us peace, but not a false peace like the world. However, sometimes it is good to hold our peace. As the Bible says, “Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive” (Proverbs 17:28). Timing is also very important. If you want to get a description of the way of fools, read the book of Proverbs. We need to have discernment and walk in the Lord’s timing and with his grace. None can remove our peace in the Lord. When we are in the midst of trying times and trials, we need to have invested in knowing the Lord intimately and well if we are going to walk fully in his peace. Without discipline in spiritual matters like reading your Bible, studying the Bible and putting it all together as a whole, prayer, and Christian formation, it is unlikely we will grow. Our life should become a life of prayer and Christlikeness.

Jesus also said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). God wants us to know how to spread peace, not based on lies but on truth and grace, put together. Truth and grace should never be separated. The Bible also says, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7). This is something that God primarily does and also does through us.

It is not all about ourselves; it is primarily about Jesus, who was the only sinless person and is God in the flesh, and was the substitute for our sin on a cross. If it is primarily about Jesus, and only in him will we experience true happiness. He is now at the right hand of the Father in fellowship with the Holy Trinity. He took our death penalty so that we could live, now and to eternity. What an enormous and extravagant God who would let his own creation nail him to a cross so that he might redeem us. This truly is love. Have you received him as Savior and Lord?

Too many are waiting for God to do some things in their life when it is absolutely necessary for them to cooperate with God in the process. Too many are praying for the salvation of people, but they don’t know the gospel well enough and don’t have enough experience through trial and error to have the wisdom to share the gospel. Those who truly love God put themselves out there in gratitude and share with others. They don’t settle for a false peace. People in the world are living in a false peace, and they desperately need the peace only God can bring.

The Christian has peace with God and the peace of God. Why live in turmoil when our peace rests in him and in following his way of life? We can waste our life, or it can count for eternity. Would you make peace with God today and receive the peace from God? Your sin has separated you from him. The Bible says, “ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Repent of your love of sin and choose to love God instead and accept the great humble and extravagant gift of salvation in Jesus Christ who took the penalty of our sin on the cross that we might have peace with God and the peace of God. Pray and confess that you have sinned, ask him to forgive you and come into your life and be your God, and let him empower and direct your life in love. (John 1:12)

Christian get disciplined and feed yourselves spiritually and practically as you walk together with God. Grace and effort go together in Christian discipleship. Grace is not opposed to effort in Christian discipleship.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13).