Paul’s greeting to the Philippian church sets the tone for his whole letter… “grace and peace to you!”
If grace is the motive for God’s goodness, peace is the outcome.
God’s peace is much more than a feeling of tranquility, a kind of inner calm when things are going crazy outside. God’s peace is a powerful force that is continually active within us despite our circumstances.
“In the Bible, shalom (Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם) is commonly translated as “peace”, but it means much more than the mere absence of conflict. Derived from a root meaning “to be complete, sound, or whole”, shalom represents a holistic state of flourishing, harmony, and well-being in all aspects of life—physical, relational, and spiritual.
To explore the richness of shalom in scripture:
- Wholeness and Completeness: The root can refer to a perfectly shaped stone without cracks or a fully completed wall. Biblically, it describes a life where nothing is missing and nothing is broken.
- Relational Healing: To “bring shalom” frequently means to restore broken relationships, reconcile with an enemy, or provide restitution for a wrong.
- Divine Peace: True shalom is rooted in God’s presence and covenant. It is even used as a name for God (Yahweh-Shalom – “The Lord is Peace”) and points toward Jesus, who is prophesied as the “Prince of Peace”.
(Source: Google AI)
When Adam decided to go it alone, he forfeited the three great “states” or conditions that prevail in God’s realm…in God’s presence…His love, joy, and peace. He was catapulted out of the “air” of heaven into the atmosphere of a life without God…chaos and confusion.
On the other hand, Jesus promised His disciples, in the upper room, on the eve of His death, that He would leave a legacy for them…His love, His joy, and His peace, heaven’s “air” restored. Even now, in the midst of earth’s chaos, God’s people breathe the air of heaven.
Now, let’s explore this peace…this state of “shalom” that we enjoy this side of heaven.
What is its source?
God is the source of true peace.
“The God of peace be with you all. Amen.”
Romans 15:33 NIV
God’s peace comes to us through Jesus.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:1-2 NIV
We can never enjoy this state of wholeness outside of God and what Jesus has done for us to restore us to fellowship with God…”peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…”
Jesus settled every issue that stood between us and God by His death and resurrection. The great sin chasm has been bridged…atoned for by His blood, the debt paid, the blood sacrifice for sin accepted…once for all.
The outcome is peace…between God and us and…between us and our guilty conscience. Peace instead of shame and fear…wholeness instead of brokenness emptiness, and loss.
What does peace do?
Peace is not just a state of being. Peace has power in our lives.
Peace is the referee that keeps us walking in the right direction. In the game of life, God leaves nothing to chance. When we step out of line, we lose the sense of wholeness. Something is out of sync inside. We feel that restlessness that tells us that our fellowship with God has been disturbed.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Colossians 3:15 NIV
The way back to peace is through the blood of Jesus.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin…If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:7, 9 NIV
Keeping short accounts with God…monitored by the peace in our hearts…will keep us on track and protect us from drifting away from the truth that saves us.
Peace also guards our hearts from the anxieties that neutralise our faith and drive a wedge between us and the awareness of God’s presence.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus…”
We can only have a 24 hour/7- day-a-week guard on duty around our minds when we choose to let our anxieties go and replace them with trust in God. We must make that deliberate exchange…in prayer…with God.
When we do that, we not only get the peace from God but we also… when we choose to fill our minds with the right thoughts…have the guarantee of the awareness of God’s presence.
“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:6-7, 9 NIV
I say “awareness” because, whether we feel His presence or not, God has promised never to abandon us. However, when we fill our minds with His word and refuse to give in to worry or anxiety, the God of peace actively works in our behalf…as He did for Joseph…
“The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.”
Genesis 39:2 NIV
…David
“In everything he (David) did, he had great success, because the Lord was with him.”
1 Samuel 18:14 NIV
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:2 NIV
What a prayer to pray for family, friends…and even enemies! Instead of leaning on their problems and bewailing their situations, why not speak God’s promise of grace and peace over them! He will always make good on His promises.
To be continued