Peace From, In, and With God

“Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” -Romans 5:1

What could win peace for my anxious heart which is riddled by so many demands and plagued by inability to hold it all together? We tend to think of peace as something we must work on or perform. “Peace with myself,” or “if I can only find some peace.” We also think peace is simply something between people in relationships. Yet our need for peace is deeper; by grace, His peace is deeper.

Paul says we enjoy peace with God through Jesus. All our wrongs are made right, or justified, by Jesus and we receive this by faith. Oh, but there is gained for our anxious, broken hearts everything in heaven by this faith! We not only are relieved of the burdens we carry, we have an active peace! Peace to rejoice in our sufferings and persevere by His grace to rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-5).

Jesus left us this peace, not as the world gives, but a peace which gives this word: "Let not your hearts be troubled" (John 14:27). This is Christ’s peace given to us! This peace guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7), in Whom we have peace with God. This peace, sovereign to Christ, is commanded to rule in our hearts (Colossians 3:15). Christ’s peace is not something He gives when we need it beyond our own works, but a peace to rule in our desires and to make His church one.

This peace belonging to Christ which rules our hearts and rejoices in all things is learned (Philippians 4:11-12). Paul said he learned the secret to this satisfying peace. We go through trials, afflictions, and day to day life beyond our abilities to hold it together to learn this secret of Christ’s peace.

The peace of Christ which rules the hearts of His united people is the secret to forgive and be forgiven, turn away from captivating sins, learning patience, courage, boldness in speaking the truth in love in the bond of peace given by the Holy Spirit.  

How is this peace won for us and learned? It isn’t in finding peace with ourselves or finding peace in circumstances such as better paying jobs or managing relationships so I don’t become anxious or angry. This peace is found only in God, and this is won for you and given to you through Jesus Christ who justifies the wrongdoers. What marvelous grace our God has for us!

Heavenly Father, forgive and heal our anxious hearts. We let preferences or opinions rule and determine our peacefulness and peaceableness with others. Heal our anxious and broken hearts by Your sovereign peace given to us, not by our works, but by Christ. May we drink fully of Your grace and be satisfied and enjoy Your peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Walk in Wisdom Toward Outsiders

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” -Colossians 4:5-6

Being kind to those outside the church is a command of Christ. To be gracious in the way we talk to them, kind and humble in our stance toward them, even stating biblical truth or opinions on life in a non-combative, caring way. We don’t lean forward like a pikeman in a charge to battle, but we walk and talk gently like a messenger. 

Kindness in our wise walk in life is against what comes naturally to us (Galatians 5:20). To keep in step in our wise walk in the Spirit who gives us gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-25) means we must have new desires. Naturally, we desire to win debates. To be right. Yet, the goal of our conversations or persuasion of others in biblical truth or opinions on life is to glorify God. We glorify God by having our speech gracious, seasoned with salt, so we know biblically wise answers to each person.

The wisdom Jesus commands us to walk in must have a sense of rest and peace to our hearts. Not angry, not anxious, not hostile, not “hyped up.” Our new heart has a calmness from which we speak. If our heart treasures Christ, we receive peace, joy, gentleness, wisdom to speak from the abundance of our hearts. If our heart treasures self, we will even fight for biblical truth with unwise fierceness and display Christ as hostile and bitter. Our Lord Himself called us weary sinners to come to Him for He is “gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). If you lack wisdom in your walk toward outsiders, ask in prayer for wisdom (James 1:5).

The follower of Jesus is to speak gracious and salty; in other words, founded in God’s grace and possesses a warm, inviting character. Not from a sharp personality that pushes people away to protect yourself, but warm and open to outsiders. Outsiders should hear gracious words and smell the aroma of the love of Christ (II Corinthians 2:15) which fills your heart, be attracted to tasting and seeing that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8), leaving judgment to God by the very same aroma rather than from a hostile stance or tone in our speech.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). May we be found faithfully wise in our walk, gentle and lowly in heart, gracious in our speech to those living in darkness, where we ourselves once were but by God’s grace are no longer.

Heavenly Father, search our hearts, examine and confront any hostility to Your wisdom. May our tongues be gentle and not sharp or a flame. We are Your messengers of Your gospel. Grant us wisdom. Make us useful by Your grace and use us for Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.