In our last lesson of our study on the fruits of the Spirit we encountered
peace.
After we have made peace with God through Jesus Christ, what then? What
does God expect us to do with that peace? What is HIS perspective on peace?
Have we the right perspective ourselves?
The peace of God is much more than the absence of war or distress. It
is not like the false peace that the world offers. The world bases its
peace on what it has, such as personal aptitude, achievement, and acquisition
or basically, assets. Five great enemies to peace are greed, ambition,
envy, anger, and pride. Nevertheless, God's peace is built on relationships
- the primary one being with Christ. As we learned earlier, peace is a
gift of God. Lost people enjoy peace when they have no troubles, but saved
people can enjoy peace in spite of difficulty because of the abiding presence
of the Holy Spirit and the power He brings….
Colossians 3:15 (KJV)
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are
called in one body and be ye thankful.
Psalm 4:8 (KJV)
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest
me dwell in safety.
Ladies, God wants peace to RULE in our hearts and minds. Why? Because
peace on the inside of us should lead to peace on the outside of us! Jesus
Christ left us a legacy of peace as seen in John 14:27:
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.
The legacy is left that we might carry it on...
Psalm 34:14 (KJV)
Depart from evil and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Peace should become a personal goal of the child of God after salvation.
It is something to be sought after in our lives, chased down, and never
let go of. Are you mirroring God’s serenity? It is the duty of Christians
to be peacemakers! How would you rate yourself in that department today,
dear lady? Are you a peacemaker or a fighter? Do you diligently pursue
peace in the outward relationships in your life? Or have you never seriously
considered your role in personally being at peace with others? Is peace
something you have taken responsibility for since becoming a child of
God, or do you typically leave the peacemaking up to others? Until you
depart from evil and make an effort to implement good, seeking peace will
always be a struggle for you…
Matthew 5:9 (KJV)
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of
God.
Yes, God expects you to do something with the gift of peace He has given
you! He expects the inward to extend to the outward... To live peaceably
with others will require drawing upon love, the first fruit of the Spirit
mentioned in the Word of God. Peace is a higher level of living; it is
God's level of living! Social peace should follow spiritual peace, amen?
As we draw upon God's love within us, we can dwell peaceably with brethren
and lost people, even enemies! There should be no reason why we cannot.
It is a personal responsibility to seek peace and pursue it in ALL relationships....
Mark 9:50 (KJV)
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye
season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
1 Thess. 5:13b (KJV)
....And be at peace among yourselves.
Romans 12:18 (KJV)
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Romans 14:19 (KJV)
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things
wherewith one may edify another.
I don't know about you, but it's pretty clear to me that we are to actively
practice peace in our outward relationships now that we belong to God's
family. Many wish for peace and talk loudly for it, even pray for it,
yet never FOLLOW the things that God says make for peace! Meekness, humility,
self-denial, and love, make for peace. We cannot edify one another, while
quarrelling and contending… Have you been following after your flesh,
or the Spirit of God?? Do you have any conflicts with others in which
you need to work at peace? I hope you'll seek to please the Lord in all
your conflicts, no matter the size or the person... Why do you think that
God expects us to follow hard after peace? The answer is in verse 14 of
Hebrews 12:
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall SEE
the Lord.
Whether or not you are serious about it, the Lord is still in the business
of reaching lost souls today and He works through the likes of you and
me to do so! It is through the peace that first dwells inside of Christians
and then extends outside of us that others actually SEE God in our lives!
Peace must be coupled with holiness. Can the Lord use your testimony to
demonstrate a peaceful spirit or would God have to pass you by for someone
more holy, more Christlike? Ladies, when we react to trials or persecutions
peaceably, it is a marvel to others. Neither the devil nor the world,
nor unruly people can trouble us when peace reigns in our hearts. Jesus
did not leave us a legacy of peace to simply flush it down the toilet!
He wants it to reach out and draw others into a personal relationship
with Him, and ultimately peace with God. Could it be that you are interfering
with God's plan because of someone with whom you do not live out peace?
Might you need to earnestly seek peace with that certain person so that
the Lord may clearly be seen? Search your heart, dear lady, and ask the
Lord to show you where peace is missing in your life. Get HIS perspective
on this fruit of the Spirit! Know this though - without respect for the
Word of God, we will never be able to carry out such an important duty
as that of being peacemakers, nor of having God’s peace rule within our
hearts…
Isaiah 48:18 (KJV)
O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been
as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.
You see ladies; it is our own fault if our peace is minimal at best. If
our sins had not turned us away from God, our peace should have been always
flowing and abundant! Spiritual enjoyments are always joined with holiness
of life and high regard to God’s will... We must hearken diligently unto
the Word of God for peace to flow like a river within us and then out
of our hearts straight into the lives of others as we seek peace with
all men... (Yes, even your husband!)
Isaiah 32:17 (KJV)
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness
quietness and assurance for ever.
When the going gets tough and the pressure of life is upon us, we've all
said at one time or another, "I just want some peace and quiet!" Well,
guess what? You CAN have peace and quiet both internally and externally
when you yield to the Spirit of God and His control. Peace is a teacher...
Whom God redeems, He teaches and that by way of affliction. While under
stressful conditions, God's own perfect peace assures us that He alone
can help us master situations in a manner that is glorifying to His name,
thereby positively affecting those close by us.
But the fruit... Is there any in your life?
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003
