Dear Ones:
Objective truth should lead to an experiential fellowship with God. When Jesus said, “….Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you…” (Jn. 14:27) He brings us face to face with the objective truth that Jesus IS our peace, not only in that He has secured for us “peace WITH God,” but also that He IS experientially our peace, the very essence and experience of peace. How does this work out in our lives?
First of all, since He is the God of peace (heavenly, and Divine), and since it is a peace that cannot be “understood,” nor of this world, (Phil. 4:7), as it “…passeth all understanding,” let us grasp that we are called to KNOW this peace from God as a gift from God. Paul writes of the Spirit, that the fruit of His life (Christ’s life…) within us, is “…love, joy, and PEACE.” God communicates His peace by the Spirit of God. Secondly, let us understand that His peace is given to “…keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (v.7) The peace of God plays an active role in our lives to garrison our hearts and minds, leading us in the way in which we should go. Paul’s admonition to the Colossians is so instructive here: “Let the peace of God RULE in your hearts…(3:15). The application is simple. If you do not have peace, stop and find out why. The peace of God is like an umpire in a baseball game. He decides the nature of the pitch. If we do not have the Lord’s peace about something, we do not engage in it. If we have it, then we proceed with confidence.
It is very interesting that Joseph, when he was standing before Pharoah, would tell him that with respect to the interpretation of his dreams, he would know the answer was from God because he would receive “an answer of peace.” That peace would be in stark contrast to not only the dreams themselves, but with respect to their interpretation, a real subject of concern. And yet, the dominant factor in realizing the interpretation was of God would be His peace. It is the same for us.
So, today, let us live IN His peace, and BY His peace. He is the God of peace, and when we are walking in harmony with Him, we will KNOW His peace, be led and guarded by that peace. It is then that we walk in full assurance of faith.
Love, Dad