What is peace?
What does peace mean to you?
Is it a time without war or conflict, a time of freedom from strife? Or does it mean more of a state of mental calm and serenity, a time of freedom from anxiety?
I think that both these descriptions of peace are correct, but there is also a third description. This is one where we are in union and harmony with Jesus Christ.
We need to strive for all three versions because I don’t see how we can live without all three being present. Let me try to explain.
1) Freedom from strife, war or conflict.
As human beings and members of a community we need to work hard at living in harmony with other members of our society. If we don’t do this we will become an outsider, one to be avoided at all costs, a troublemaker.
As a Christian this is the last thing that we would want because it goes against all the teachings in the bible. Most religions of the world teach peace but as we know some people want to ‘make people believe in their peace’. We need to try to understand other people and their point of view so that we can, if necessary agree to disagree. It is not right, in my view, to force people to believe what you believe. I do believe in discussion and dialogue that leads to understanding other people’s points of view. We may not agree with everything that they believe or do but I believe that there are other ways of solving differences of opinions without conflict or violence.
2) A state of mental calm and serenity free from anxiety.
This is, or can be, a difficult state to achieve. In today’s busy world of hustle and bustle, we have noise everywhere, everything needs to be done yesterday, we have deadlines to meet, and if you cannot multitask then you are no good.
This is not a recipe for calm and serenity, rather the opposite. I believe that it is only by having God’s peace that we can attain this mental state. By reading God’s word and praying to Him we can put things back into perspective and see what is important ant what isn’t.
Our reading in part 14, “And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.” from Paul’s letter to the Philippians tells us that for us to achieve this peace and understanding we cannot do it on our own. This is because the peace, which comes from God, is ‘far beyond human understanding’.
In the message bible it says this “Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life.” (Philippians 4:7 Message)
I like the last part of that verse; it’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life. Only when Christ is at the centre of our life can we know that real calm and serenity that is God’s peace. All our anxiety will fade as a new perspective comes into view. Problems that seemed like mountains in front of us become achievable goals, worries about material things fade.
If I may indulge in a personal experience, many years ago, when the family was young, I became ill and was off work for over 2 months. As you can imagine, the only wage (mine) became less and less. When the food cupboard was looking very bare and we were wondering what to do for meals, a knock came at the door and a friend of ours came in with a shopping bag of groceries. She said, “I hope you don’t mind but I have brought you these to help you out” She did not know what our financial position was, but God did. Since then I have tried never to worry about things that I cannot change. God knows my situation and as long as I speak to Him about it He will never let me down.
Thank God for friends.
I have many more stories of how the Lord has helped my family and me in times of need but they will keep for another time.
3) Being in union and harmony with Jesus Christ.
When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, we begin a journey. I can explain it best by saying it is like meeting someone new who becomes a very close friend, but it takes time and sometimes-hard work.
When we meet someone for the first time we do not know all about them, here lies the difference between human friends and God, because He does know all about us already. He is prepared to listen, forgive and help us even though we don’t deserve it.
What He asks from us is to try to live a life that is pleasing to Him and reflects His glory and nature. This is not an easy thing to achieve as it takes time and sometimes-hard work. We need to study His word and talk to him on a regular basis so that we know what He wants us to do.
The other main thing that He wants us to do is listen. This is possibly the hardest part. As I said earlier we all live busy lives where we learn to multitask so that we can achieve more. Now we need to set a time aside to be quite and listen. I find this the hardest part of worship.
Turn off all thoughts.
Sit down in a quiet room and switch off all thoughts, all the things that you have done today, all the things that still need to be done, all the concerns for your family, friends and colleagues, all the concerns about money, car service due, and be quiet.
We do not need to think about anything because when we switch off our thoughts and clear out the unimportant clutter, our spirit can then commune with God on the spiritual level.
How can I explain what to do and yet find it so difficult? Well mainly because I am human, when I get to this state I have fallen asleep because of the busy life I mentioned earlier.
Lord forgive my weakness. As He said to the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane, Rising from his prayer, he went back to the disciples and found them asleep, worn out by their grief. He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
Luke 22:45-46 GNB
When we attain this He will keep our “spirit, soul, and body — free from every fault “ until “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
What Is Peace?
Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in everything we do and say.
May the peace of our lord Jesus Christ be with you all forever.
