Everybody wants peace. Inner peace. Peace of mind. Peaceful feelings. Peace on Earth. It doesn’t come from clearing your mind and doing all this mumbo jumbo you hear in the world today. It comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ. When you believe and accept His grace, the Holy Spirit will live in you and give you peace. Peace is part of the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
As I went through the scriptures about peace, many of the scriptures overlap the virtues in Galatians 5:22-23. You cannot have one without the others. Joy is having peace in all circumstances. When you love you have joy. Sometimes it takes a little patience. We show love by our kindness, goodness and gentleness. Salvation comes through faith. As we follow Christ, He is faithful to forgive all of our sins. And through that we will be faithful to Him and to each other. As the Spirit works in us, we will have self-control.
2 Timothy 2:19-26
Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
As we allow the Spirit to work in our lives, the fruit of the Spirit will show and God can use us to further His Kingdom and we can grow as children of God.
Colossians 3:12-15
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
We have peace through unity in Christ. God does not want us to be quarreling or causing divisions within the church. That goes against what God’s will is for us. And this goes beyond the church. The church is more than what goes on within the walls of the church, but we are to go out into the world and share the love of Christ with others. Do our neighbors and friends feel at peace when they are around us? Are our words on social media reflective of this peace that Christ gives us?
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Romans 12:14-18
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
We can be blessed by the peace that is in our hearts and we can bless others with that same peace. Even when it is someone who is hard to be kind to, we can have a peace within us for being kind to those who are not kind to us. This is not easy to do; we all have that one difficult person in our lives. I know I do. Only through the Holy Spirit is this accomplished.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Our salvation comes through faith in the only Son of God, Jesus Christ, who paid for our sins and has declared us righteous. We don’t deserve it, but God did that for us. When we accept that gift, we receive the Holy Spirit who will indwell in us Jesus promised that He would send us the Holy Spirit. And through the Holy Spirit, believers will have these virtues. Not only did Jesus promise the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, he promised us peace. How wonderful it is to know that when we believe, we have peace with God. We are His children.
John 14:22-27
Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Jesus reminds us that He is our peace. Those who love Him will keep His word. we will do what He says and we will share His gospel and His love. The best way by doing this is by loving others. When Jesus died and rose again, as He promised, He sent us the Holy Spirit. He gave us peace. For He is the Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
By knowing Him, truly knowing Jesus Christ we can have peace. We can have inner peace, we can have that blessed assurance that we will have eternal life with Him in heaven. We can have peace on earth, in our hearts; not for us alone, but to share with others.
Numbers 6:24-26
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” ‘
My Daily Scriptures 