Have you ever given much thought to what Jesus was talking about when He spoke of peace?
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
He said that He gives us peace. What peace? If your life is a jumble, perhaps you wish you could get some peace. Perhaps you thought that the peace He spoke of was in the future?
Would you like to have that peace today?
We need to take into account that peace is a fruit of the Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:22-26
If we live and walk in the Spirit, we can have this peace, but what exactly is this peace? Remember what the angel of the Lord told the shepherds?
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:10-14
Our Savior was born. On earth peace, good will toward men. Jesus had come to fix the turmoil we let into the world when we sinned. Faith is the means for us to have access to that peace – reconciliation to God.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2
The peace that Jesus spoke of really is peace with God. When we start with peace with God, we can have peace in other areas of our life. Without peace with God, we cannot hope to have any other peace. Peace with God is the ultimate inner peace. Inner peace gives us a foundation to live peaceably.
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to ask yourself if you have peace. If you struggle with others in your day-to-day life, God did not promise that we wouldn’t.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Romans 8:6-7
True peace is a fruit of the Spirit. It begins with salvation and comes through walking and living in the Spirit as opposed to being carnally minded. Get your relationship right with God, and His peace will follow.