England’s Field Marshall Lord Montgomery once said that he would read his own book, The History of Warfare, and try to discern how he could stop people from fighting. In all of history, peace is extremely rare.
However, the Bible speaks of peace in two ways. One is a lack of conflict between people, the lack of conflict that this Field Marshall spoke about. The other is peace with God, which results in a deep sense of inner peace. The first seldom happens because many people do not have the second one even though God makes it available. Lord Montgomery could not do it, but the Lord Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. Everyone who believes in Him experiences God’s gift of inner peace.
Further, Jesus calls His people to pass it on, to introduce others so that peace happens in their hearts as well. He says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9) The NT echoes with “a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:18)
MacArthur illustrates God’s inner peace with “the cushion of the sea” in which the ocean surface may be in great turmoil but the deeper you descend, the calmer the water. Ocean bottoms are virtually still and undisturbed. Christians testify to this cushion of peace in their souls regardless of their troubled surroundings. We belong to God who indwells us by the Holy Spirit. Trusting Christ in any situation brings peace when we are filled with His Spirit:
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)
Law or rule keeping cannot produce this peace. It is a wonderful God-thing, often experienced in tough times and for that reason I can rejoice even in sorrow:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4–7)
God is the source of perfect peace and its purest example. “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:33) One of His titles is Jehovah-shalom meaning ‘the Lord is peace’ from Judges 6:24. There is perfect harmony between Father, Son and Holy Spirit for God cannot be at odds with Himself. Not only that, He wants all people to know that kind of peace. He sent Jesus for that reason. When He was born, the angels proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14)
Yet those without Jesus do not know that cushion. This is why Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” — He was not talking about treaties and peace accords but about those who bring to others the good news — God has made available great peace for those who put their trust in Christ Jesus, His death and resurrection and invite Him to reign in their hearts.
Jesus, this is one more amazing truth about You. You give that inner peace that is often beyond my comprehension. I know that obedience and peace go hand in hand for when I stray into sin, that peace steps aside and becomes a signal for me to examine my heart and confess and repent. I know that I need to experience peace with You and within my heart so I can share it with others. I also see a great need for this to happen. Sin robs the soul of this blessed cushion of peace, the calmness that sets Your people apart as sons and daughters of God. May I be a peacemaker, today and all my days. Keep me in the center of Your calm so I am able to do it.
INSIGHT: Read Isaiah 57:15–21 and note how God encourages and warns me in relation to peace.
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