“And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, ‘Peace, be still.’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39
Dear Ones:
When Paul writes of the peace of God, that wonderful fruit, and manifestation, of the life of Christ by the Spirit, he writes: “…And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7) Herein is true Christianity, the “knowledge” and experience of the peace of God in heart and mind, in the face of circumstances that stand in opposition to it. These circumstances are mountains, valleys, the issues of life which deal with normal sustenance, and provision. They are also those potential dangers, which assail the soul of believers and non-believers alike. It is when there is the true recognition of these matters, and the honest assessment of the situations at hand, that a path is presented to us, whereby we can know the blessed calm of Christ, that stillness of the soul, whereby the dominant factor in the life becomes the experience of the very peace of God. Why? And How?
In the book of Judges, we find the very basis of believing in the peace of God, not only because it is a fact, but because it is something to be known, experienced, and lived by. On one occasion, when Gideon was faced with the overwhelming call of God to save Israel from her enemies, he wanted to make sure that God was speaking to him. It was not a question of doubting the God of Israel, but of being sure that the one speaking to him was indeed a messenger from God, an “angel of the Lord.” (6:17) Hence, Gideon would say: “If now I have found grace in thy sight, then show me a sign that thou talkest with me.” It is then that Gideon puts before the angel of the Lord a sacrifice of flesh and unleavened cakes, upon a rock, then to pour out the broth. When the angel stretched forth his staff, and touched the elements on the rock, there came fire out of the rock and consumed the flesh and bread. It was then that Gideon, in his fear, recognized that the One before him had been truly “…an angel of the Lord,” “…whom he had seen face to face.” Overwhelmed, and not knowing what to do or think, the Lord would say to him: “…Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.” Gideon would then build and altar there unto the Lord, and called it “Jehovah-shalom.” This name of God, Jehovah-shalom means, “The Lord our peace.” Without knowing fully what he was declaring, Gideon revealed to every believer the significance of the peace of God. It is that Jesus Christ IS our peace, and it is as we are in communion with Him by the Spirit, that His peace will be known. It is a peace that is a gift, as is everything given by God to man by the Spirit. It is also something that does not have its origin in this world, but from heaven itself. Christ is the incomprehensible essence, experience, and power of His peace. To truly know Him, is to know His peace. How does this work out in life, and what is the “evidence” and expression of His peace?
When Jesus stood on the deck of that small ship in the raging, destructive power of the sea, and spoke, His authority and power were revealed: “Peace, be still.” All the forces of nature, both wind and the sea, were brought under the absolute authority of Christ. He commanded peace and stillness to dominate all else, and it was so.
There is a stillness of heart, mind, and soul, with regard to the peace of God. David puts it in picture form: “…He (the Good Shepherd) leads me beside STILL waters.” Isaiah would help us to understand how to appropriate that peace: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” (26:3)
Dear Father, Keep our hearts and minds in Thy peace this day, as we trust in Thee. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad