The fruit of the Spirit is peace.
OCTOBER 5, 2007 (FRIDAY) – The fruit of the Spirit is Peace.
When I think of “peace” in the Bible, three kinds of peace immediately come to mind: Peace with God, Peace in my heart, and Peace with other people.
First, the Bible speaks of “peace with God.” In Romans 5:1, the Scripture says, “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV). “Justified” is a legal term which means justice has prevailed and everything has been set right once again. A person has paid his debt and now he is free. You and I know we had a debt we could not pay. Jesus paid that debt for us when He gave Himself on the cross. By grace, through faith, we now have been set right with God. As the old hymn declared, there is now “nothing between my soul and the Savior.” We have peace with God.
Then, the Bible speaks of peace in the human heart. In Philippians 4:7, we are told, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (NIV). You can have a serenity within so strong that nothing in this world can be compared with it. How does it come to you? The preceding verse in Philippians 4 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” The old song encourages us, “Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.” Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV).
The third kind of peace is peace with each other. He has created the possibility of unity in Christ, ”for he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:14-18 NIV).
The fruit of the Spirit is peace of all kinds: peace with God, peace within, and peace with each other.
Do you have peace with God? Do you know the peace that comes with His forgiveness of every sin you have ever committed?
Do you have peace within your own heart today? Jesus does not want you to be worried. He wants to give you peace.
Are you living at peace with others, as far as it is up to you? Have you forgiven others and are you willing to be at peace with them?
The fruit of the Spirit is peace.