Ephesians 6:23-24 NLT
[23] “Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. [24] May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul writes this letter, ‘book’ we call it, between two bookends… peace. The left ‘bookend’ includes a prayer for ‘grace’, the foundation of all God’s dealings with humans. The right ‘bookend’ adds ‘peace’, the outcome of God’s grace… ‘shalom’ in Hebrew, ‘eirene’ in Greek, two words rich in meaning.
Three words encompass the environment of God’s presence in heaven… love, joy, peace. There is nothing that can change or neutralise these three attributes of God Himself in the heavenly realm.
Adam chose, however, in the garden of Eden, to forfeit God’s presence in him for his own way. The result was hell into his soul, a life without God.
Ephesians 2:12 NLT
… “You lived in this world without God and without hope.”
Jesus came to change everything, to restore what Adam threw away… God’s love, joy, and peace in the soul. This is His legacy for all who believe in Him through His death.
Look what He gave His disciples before His departure.
John 15:9 NLT
[9] “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in MY LOVE. “
John 15:11 NLT
[11]”I have told you these things so that you will be filled with MY JOY. Yes, your joy will overflow!”
John 14:27 NIV
[27] “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.”
Jesus is God. He gave to His disciples His own attributes!
John 14:16-18 NLT
[16]”And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. [17] He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. [18] No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.”
Think of that! He gave Himself back to them through the Holy Spirit’s presence in them, the fruit of His own life at work IN THEM.
Galatians 5:22 NLT
[22]”But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace…”
Why is God’s peace so important to us? Why should it be the prayer Paul uttered in every letter he wrote?
God’s peace in our hearts and minds has two great functions.
- God’s peace guards our thoughts against deception.
Philippians 4:6,7 NLT
[6] “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
[7] Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Worry and anxiety are the symptoms of fear. Fear is the product of unbelief – the devil’s way of dealing with the insecurities and uncertainties of life. God’s peace is the antidote to fear.
How do we receive and live in His peace?
Paul’s answer is simple – trade fear for peace by developing a thankful heart in all circumstances. We must choose fear or faith. It doesn’t just happen.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT
[18] “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
When we choose to believe God by unloading our cares onto Him, all flavoured with fear, He responds with His peace – an indescribable experience of security, calm, and confidence to face anything with Him. Paul says that this peace is real but it make no sense outside of God Himself. This peace shuts out every deceptive thought producing unbelief and fear, and shuts in an unshakeable confidence in God’s love and faithfulness to His promises.
- God’s peace guides us in our choices and decisions.
Colossians 3:15 NIV
[15] “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Here we have it again… a thankful heart is the environment in which God’s peace works. Every day we are confronted with choices and decisions…to think this not that… to do this, not that… to go here, not there. Every decision and action carries a consequence. How can we know that our decisions are right or wrong? God’s peace! Like the referee in a game.
A thankful heart pushes us towards right decisions, creating the environment, the motivation for doing what works.
For example, I have a prompting towards generosity. I weigh it up. Shall I give or keep for myself? Gratitude to God for His goodness to me pushes me towards supplying another’s need. I give and God’s peace confirms my choice. His peace is actually His Spirit actively producing His fruit in my heart as I do what’s right.
God’s peace also acts, when we go off the path. I do something that is counter to a grateful heart. I speak a harsh word. I believe a lie and act on it. I do something out of selfishness… God’s peace goes. Restlessness, insecurity, inner turmoil replaces the peace.
How can I regain the tranquility that ruled in my soul? Stop! Think back! Where did I lose my peace? Together with the Holy Spirit, I remember. He shows me where I deviated from truth. I repent, turn from my wickedness, make right with another if I trespassed on someone else’s territory. My peace is restored. Peace acted in me to correct my wrongdoing and took over, once again, to rule in my heart.
How essential and powerful is God’s peace in us. His peace helps us navigate, safely, all the hazards we face from ourselves and others in this life. We need His peace to bring us to the haven of eternal peace in His presence.