We live in a world that talks a lot about peace. We have even heard people discuss the process of achieving world peace. I must be the bearer of bad news, but this concept will never happen. There has never been a time in history when there was not an armed conflict somewhere in the world. You don’t have to look long in the Scripture to see that the lack of peace began soon after sin entered the world. One brother killing another was the launching pad for a world in conflict. Again, the consequence of sin is the absence of peace.
If we define peace as the absence of conflict, it will never be achieved. However, the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to tell us that a result of our salvation is that we can live in perfect peace. To rationalize these two truths, we need to dig a litter deeper in or understanding of the concept of peace.
As I said above, some view peace as the absence of conflict. However, God defines peace as the calm available to us despite the troubles of this world. Peace in this life is available if we choose to live withing the safety of God’s grace. I am not going to spend a lot of time describing how we attain peace. It is remarkably simple. In Galatians 5, we learn that peace is one of the Fruit of the Spirit. When we receive the Holy Spirit at the moment of our salvation, he brings with him the fruit of peace. We do nothing to attain it, but accept it into our lives.
The question, then, is how do we appropriate what is already a part of us? Continuing to depend on the inspired words provided by the Apostle Paul, we turn to his letter to the Philippians. In chapter 4, verses 6-9, we have the secret revealed.
The process of peace begins with rejoicing. Notice this does not say rejoice in your circumstances. We are to rejoice in who God is and who he has made us to be. This is the purpose of this series, to remind us of these truths. This is a simple formula, when I focus on the greatness of our Lord and all that he has provided for me, I don’t have time to fret over the problems of this world. Paul gives us the secret of rejoicing when he reminds us that our Lord is always closer to us than the problems of this life.
The next step is to pray. In the good times and the bad, pray. This prayer is a means by which we can leave the cares of this life at the feet of Jesus and walk away with the understanding of his presence. We need to remember not to reach back and grab the struggle as we walk away. Jesus is far more capable of disposing of the junk than we are.
That same verse encourages us to be grateful. Gratitude is the act of accepting what I have as being all I need. If that something is Jesus, then this is true. When I become grateful for the assurance of my eternity and claim that as enough, I have no need to fret over things I may never be able to change.
One of the most important exercises to bring peace is to change our thinking. In Romans 12, we are told to renew our minds. This is getting rid of the stuff that causes us pain and replacing it with truth of God’s mercy and grace. If I focus on the news broadcast, it will never find peace. If I focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy, I do not have time to worry about this life.
The last step we will discuss is found in verse 9. It is to read and apply the word of God. This means to obey the directives he gives, accept the promises he makes, and seek the wisdom he provides.
The result of this process is found in Romans 15:33, May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.