The Fruit Of The Spirit---Peace

   Peace, a most common word today, is on the lips of every news reporter, on the pages of every publication. We hear politician speak of a "just and durable" or a "just and honorable" peace. Peace is the part of the conversation of the average person as well as every ruler. Yet peace is a strange word for the twentieth century. Our world is rampant with nationalism, imperialism, racism, militarism, militant communism and division.

People everywhere speak of peace because all desire peace. "All men desire peace, but very few desire those things that make for peace".

Many times we give a false meaning to peace. On the personal level peace comes with old age, settling down in a country home in the quiet of nature. Or peace is a lad fishing for suckers on a lazy afternoon. In the family peace exist when no quarrels or verbal battle occur. In the church peace happens when the preacher doesn't say anything upsetting or when members are satisfied with the status quo. On the national level people think peace is the absence of war and when the oppressed do not cause any opposition or commotion.

The search for peace is not new. All the philosopher of the ages wistfully longed for peace and to find the meaning and way of peace. Some philosophers proposed that peace is the removal of desire and other said peace is the death of emotion. Still others said peace is the ability to maintain absolute indifference or is self-sufficiency which does not allow itself to become dependent on anyone or anything, defended by the determination not to care. One might say that all the philosophers saw peace as the absence of pain either in mind or body.

But what really is the peace which the Bible speaks? In particular what is the peace which Paul says is the result of the Holy Spirit's indwelling? Is it the peace of detachment, self-isolation, and insulation?

Like the other fruit of the Spirit, peace is not merely or primarily a personal relationship between God and us. It is not detachment from the cares and concern of life. Peace, in the Bible sense, is a right relationship in every sphere of life, with God and men.

We find the New Testament a book of peace. It mentions peace eighty-eight times and occurs in each New Testament book.

Peace comes from believing.

Rom 15:13---Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

It is "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom 5:1). Peace comes when we stake our lives on what God says concerning Jesus. Peace also comes from belief which has turned to action. Peace is not merely passive but it flows forth from active obedience in what God wills.

Jesus exhorted his disciples, "Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another" (Mark 9:50). Paul says, "Live in peace, and the God of peace will be with you"(2Cor 13:11). Follow peace with all men (Heb 12:14). Peace is from God and so passes all human understanding (Phil 4:7), or power to create. God is therefore called the "God of peace." Peace is at the center of ourselves if God is at the center of our thoughts. " You will guard him and keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee(Isa 26:3).

Inner peace comes from looking to God, our source. Peace is the gift of Jesus Christ, before leaving His disciples, said, "Peace I leave with you: my peace I give to you" (John 14:27).

Peace within is possible as the Spirit of Christ reigns within. The fruit of the Spirit is Peace.