We all want and need peace in our lives.
People define peace differently. Many don’t know if they have it or not. You’ve seen the bumper ‘visualize world peace.’ Imagining world peace has done nothing to bring it about, we don’t just do it. What about personal peace? People seek peace through what they do, buy and how they look, but the truth is most of it is just patchwork.
Musician Billy Joel has won many awards including Male Artist of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year. Joel had twenty top-40 hits during the ‘80s, nine of which reached the top ten and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Reflecting on his impressive patchwork, “In my whole life, I haven’t met the person I can sustain a relationship with. So I’m discontented about that. I’m angry with myself. I have regrets. You don’t get hugged by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I want what everybody else wants: to love and to be loved, to have peace and a family.”
In the end of the day we’re left with ourselves – with our inner world and all that outer patchwork never really brings peace. We hear, “I just want some peace.”
Webster’s says that ‘peace is an absence of war or conflict.’ Yes, we want an absence of conflict in our marriages, relationships and work, but God has so much more for us than just reducing conflict. Having good health is more than just not having broken bones or a black eye. We need to experience peace that orders or thoughts, passions and motives.
How can we have peace in our own personal chaos?
We need to ask God for help. “God help me get my life in order and sort things out so I can really understand what’s most important, show me what needs to be thrown out and what need to be prioritized.”
Occasional and tentative cease fires do not produce contentment or real change. After 60 years the Korean DMZ is still in existence and the Israeli Palestinian peace talks have never produced any lasting peace. We all want peace, but what kind of peace? We can experience three kinds of peace.
First, we need peace with God.
You cannot have the peace of God unless you have the peace with God.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
Peace begins with God. Are you fighting with God or is it a Cold War? Some think, “God, just leave me alone and I’ll leave you alone.” It doesn’t work that way with God and it never will. He will continue to pursue you even if you are mad at Him or think He doesn’t care about you.
Jesus provides the only way of peace between you and God. He reconciled us to God the father ‘by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.’ Colossians 1:20
Secondly, we can have peace with others.
This is far more difficult. Some say, “Me and God are tight, it’s just other people I have a problem with.”
Developing peace with others is intentional, but according to the Apostle Paul not always possible.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18
While desiring peace with some or one person is not always possible, it is worth the effort. Paul goes on to say.
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Romans 12:19
Thirdly, we can have peace with ourselves.
The promises of peace that the world gives are over oversold and too often just a time of reloading. Thanks to Jesus when he said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
God’s peace doesn’t mean we no longer have difficult relationships or hardships, but it means we can have peace in the midst of those things. When we ‘are governed by the Spirit there is life and peace.’ Romans 8:6
When Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection He said, Peace be with you. Shalom be with you. Shalom means a complete sense of wholeness. God desires a shalom for you that is not an every once in a while thing, but the tempo of your life. Join us next time as we look at the enemies of our peace with God and others.
