“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
The peace of God is not of this world, that is, it does not have its beginning, or essence from this creation. It is singularly a peace that belongs to God, which is divine in nature, untainted by sin, and perfect in its expression. Its existence is not affected by the circumstances of men and of this world. It is, as God is, forever, and wholly eternal and powerful. Perhaps for mankind, the greatest wonder concerning God’s peace, His blessed calm and quietness, is that it is a gift to the believer in Christ. Jesus made this very clear when He said, “My peace, I give unto you.” The manner in which He gave the peace of God to His disciples was not like that of the world, for its was free, and only limited by the capacity of the individual disciple to receive it. The Christ who declared that He had come to give “…life, and that more abundantly,” (Jn. 10:10), is the One who, in giving Himself to die on the cross to prove His love for mankind, is also that one who has made HIS peace available to every believer on this earth. When Pentecost came, and the Spirit of God was poured out upon all flesh, there came also a beginning…the beginning of the church age, when every believer was baptized irrevocably into Jesus Christ, becoming one with Him. The Apostle Paul spoke of that moment and status of every believer as being “…complete in Christ.” (Col. 2:10) By virtue of the Father, by the Spirit, placing every believer in spiritual union with Christ, making a “new creation” of every man, He put the believer into eternal contact with Christ, and His peace. That which man did not have, or could produce or make, God would give in Christ, so that as the believer trusted Christ on a moment by moment basis, he could know the very peace of Christ, and this increasingly. Christ would give His peace to the one who would walk with Him, abide in Him, and derive all from Him. Christ’s peace became the peace of the believer.
What is the practical application of these truths concerning the peace of God? What would God have us to know, and do, in order to receive this precious gift, one that would act to confirm God’s blessing and leading, but which would reveal to the world something of the beauty, and wonder of God?
In Paul’s letter to the believers at Philippi, he wrote of the path to knowing the peace of God, a peace that could not be grasped, or fully understood, explained, but certainly of God. He began by instructing the Philippians to: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. ( Phil 4:4) Why? In God’s dealings with men He always brings them to a clear vision of Himself and His ways. Rejoicing in the Lord is both a setting of one’s affections on Christ, but also, a looking unto Him, to behold Him, rejoicing in the knowledge of who He is. Essential to faith is this consistent vision of the Beloved.
Secondly, and this with respect to one’s relationship with all men, the believer is to be forbearing, longsuffering and patient with all men, not wrongly judging, but in wisdom and knowledge, loving all in a balanced, and equitable manner, seeking always to serve others as unto the Lord.
Thirdly, Scripture deals with the circumstances in which we live, or which we will encounter. These pertain to people and situations. The command is to refuse anxiety in any form, but to pray in faith, giving Christ access to the situation or need. Thanksgiving to God is the act of faith, believing in His faithful intervention.
Lastly, there is the certainty of receiving God’s peace by the Spirit. By that peace God keeps the heart and mind, ever leading with assurance.
Dear Father, Grant us Thy peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.