The Peace of God
November 28, 2004
Dear Friends,
In the November 19th edition of the Richmond Times-Dispatch there was an article concerning two local news anchors. Embedded in the article was a question “What’s the most memorable story you’ve reported?” To this, one of them replied “My most memorable time as a reporter was the trip to Ethiopia to cover the famine. It made me cry and taught me never to complain again.”
How often does that happen to us? We lose perspective on things until something dramatic happens like an accident, sickness or witnessing something traumatic like September 11th or a famine. These major “wake up calls” help people to gain perspective on life. Things that were once so important in people’s lives such as their career or even the little tiff with the neighbor over where the garbage cans should go are now insignificant. God, family and friends take on a new, higher level of significance once the haze of petty things is lifted.
In Scripture, there is a difference between peace WITH God and the peace OF God.” We have peace with God when we come into Christ in baptism. We are reconciled to Him through Christ. Romans 5:1 bears this out when it says “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is not the peace of God.
The peace of God is described in Philippians 4:7. It reads “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” This peace of God is the peace that comes with gaining a proper perspective. Unlike those who have gained perspective through severe trial or witnessing horrible events, this perspective comes by truly understanding the Gospel message. Once we understand what a wonderful thing God has done for us in forgiving us our sins and what He plans to do for us in His coming Kingdom, we gain a peace or contentment that others can only envy. It allows us to “rejoice in the Lord” (v. 4). It allows us to be gentle and kind (v.5).
As believers in Christ, we shouldn’t need God to “wake us up” to what is important in life. As believers in the Gospel, we should have the peace of God – kindness, love, gentleness, joy and perspective. Little things shouldn’t annoy us. Worldly things shouldn’t distract us. In the end, all things other than Christ are insignificant.
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Colossians 3:12-15)
Have a great week!
