Thoughts about Peace
I started work on this before the most recent mass shootings.
Peace, according to the world is
"the normal, non-warring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world" or
"The state existing during the absence of war" or
"Freedom from civil disorder."
Peace according to God, is--
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A priority of His (Isaiah 9:6: "For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will be upon His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.")
Essential to all relationships (Ephesians 2:13-18: "But now in Christ Jesus you who were formerly far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandment contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one man, thus establishing peace; and might reconcile them both into one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.")
Acquired by repentant faith (Romans 4:23-5:5: "Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which awe stand; and we exulted in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.")
Cultivated with care (Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.")
Eternally experienced (Matthew 5:3-12: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the poor in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and say all kinds of evil against you for My sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I given to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.")
Peace is something we all want, but usually demand it on our terms. Only One could both lay out the terms of peace, both vertically and horizontally, and make peace possible.
Such peace is something our hearts yearn for, but it can be had only on God's terms. Grind your teeth at the thought? He isn't obligated to make peace with rebels such as we are. That He deigns to offer peace should cause us to agree to the terms, whatever they are.
What astounds me is that He not only determined the terms, but has seen to it that they are already fulfilled. How could that be? A holy God and a far-from-holy person have nothing in common.
That is why a gracious and merciful God decided on His own to bring about the Incarnation, giving His only Son to live a life that would fulfill all the requirements of the Law and then suffer the death of a criminal. God, having raised Christ from the dead, verifies and authenticates His acceptance of this sacrifice. This salvation is for both Jew and Gentile alike, as Scripture above notes.
Repentant faith will make this peace yours.
The Peace of God
The peace of God is like
The pearl of great price:
Flawless and costly,
Desirable above all,
Rare yet available,
For He has already paid
That price that we might
Not only obtain but keep it,
Eternity to eternity,
If we will only give up our temporal "things."
Peace, according to the world is
"the normal, non-warring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world" or
"The state existing during the absence of war" or
"Freedom from civil disorder."
Peace according to God, is--
|
A priority of His (Isaiah 9:6: "For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will be upon His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.")
Essential to all relationships (Ephesians 2:13-18: "But now in Christ Jesus you who were formerly far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandment contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one man, thus establishing peace; and might reconcile them both into one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.")
Acquired by repentant faith (Romans 4:23-5:5: "Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which awe stand; and we exulted in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.")
Cultivated with care (Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.")
Eternally experienced (Matthew 5:3-12: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the poor in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and say all kinds of evil against you for My sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I given to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.")
Peace is something we all want, but usually demand it on our terms. Only One could both lay out the terms of peace, both vertically and horizontally, and make peace possible.
Such peace is something our hearts yearn for, but it can be had only on God's terms. Grind your teeth at the thought? He isn't obligated to make peace with rebels such as we are. That He deigns to offer peace should cause us to agree to the terms, whatever they are.
What astounds me is that He not only determined the terms, but has seen to it that they are already fulfilled. How could that be? A holy God and a far-from-holy person have nothing in common.
That is why a gracious and merciful God decided on His own to bring about the Incarnation, giving His only Son to live a life that would fulfill all the requirements of the Law and then suffer the death of a criminal. God, having raised Christ from the dead, verifies and authenticates His acceptance of this sacrifice. This salvation is for both Jew and Gentile alike, as Scripture above notes.
Repentant faith will make this peace yours.
The Peace of God
The peace of God is like
The pearl of great price:
Flawless and costly,
Desirable above all,
Rare yet available,
For He has already paid
That price that we might
Not only obtain but keep it,
Eternity to eternity,
If we will only give up our temporal "things."
posted by Ebeth | 10:15 AM
2 Comments:
Consider the hymn "When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll-whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul."
Check out the rest of the verses too!
That's one of my favorite hymns
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