1 Tim 1:2 (KJV) Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
Peace!
English: Jesus Christ – detail from Deesis mosaic, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Peace is a universal good that is valued by most people. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, promised us “peace that passeth all understanding.” The promise of peace; however, is not something that does not involve work on our part. Christ completed His work when He died and rose from the grave. The “chastisement of our peace” was placed upon Him, and “by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) By the blood of Jesus, we are healed from all manner of natural and sinful afflictions. The blessed Savior poured His precious blood upon the mercy seat. Jesus made an end to our war against God, making it possible for us to have access to rivers of the living water that come forth from abiding in Him.
Peace does not simply descend from the sky. It was paid for with the highest price imaginable. It is a goal that has been already attained by the Savior, but we must be willing to accept it in order to possess it. Acceptance of and abiding in the will of a God is a condition of receiving the peace of God. It is a daily battle to deny our flesh, take up our cross to follow Jesus, and allow the fire of the Holy Spirit to burn away the dross of sin that lays dormant in all of the children of God. In the Old Testament, the peace offering was an offering made by fire. Leviticus 3:9 says: And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards…
In addition to its spiritual meaning, the use of fat in the peace sacrifice of the Old Testament has physical and metaphorical meaning. In the Western world, excess, comforts and sedentary lifestyles have created an epidemic of obesity and death from related illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease. The fiery trials spoken of by Paul are one of the ways that the Lord burns through the fat of comfort, possessions, attachments and past errors that lay “hard by” our backbone (will), in our rumps (literally what we are sitting on) and inwards (thoughts and passions).
1 Peter 4:12 says: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
Another word for fiery trials is tribulations. Romans 5: 3-5 says
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
The opposite of peace is war. If you are at war with anyone (including yourself) today, stop and consider: Peace is a weapon in the battles of life. It is not for no reason that having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace is a key part of the armor of God detailed in Ephesians 6.
Being at war causes confusion. Even in your deepest confusion, know this: The Lord desires that you have peace. Take time to meditate on your relationship with yourself and others. Think about why you are warring. Make a list of reasons for each embattled situation. Pray about and consider ways to make peace. If you are seeking the peace of the Lord today, here are some verses about peace for you to put in your pocket and meditate on. If you don’t have time to write them down right now, come back later. Have a blessed day, and may the peace of the Lord be with you.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
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