Bearing Peace That Glorifies God

      Our goal, as we have learned over the past month, is to bear fruit that glorifies God (John 15:8).  As we continue through Galatians 5:22-23, the third God-glorifying fruit of the Spirit is peace.

      In John 14:27, Jesus said He would leave peace with the disciples.  Importantly, He claimed that His peace was not the peace of the world.  The world’s idea of peace is simply a void of open hostility or violence.

      God-glorifying peace goes deeper than outward action and penetrates our very hearts.  It is an abiding happiness, contentment and satisfaction with our relationships and lives.

      There are three areas of God-glorifying peace.  First, we must have peace with God.  Thankfully, God has provided the way of peace in our relationship with Him.  Romans 5:6-11 explains that even while we were God’s enemies, He paved the way for peace by sacrificing Jesus.

      Now that we are His children, we maintain our peace with God by submitting to His will.  In our relationship with God, we must follow James’ teaching in James 1:19-20.  We must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath.  Our wrath will not produce righteousness.  Rather, as James goes on to say in James 1:22-25, hearing God’s word and obeying God’s word will produce the blessing and peace with God that glorifies Him.

      Second, we must have peace with others.  Romans 12:18 and Hebrews 12:14  both state that we are to be at peace with all men.  Jesus explained in the Sermon on the Mount that those who pursue peace will be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9).

      However, we know that not everyone will be peaceable in return.  We must be sure to note that Paul said “as much as depends on you.”  We will be attacked by others, but we must respond with peace.  Jesus is our example of peace as Peter described in I Peter 2:21-23.  He was reviled, but did not revile in return.  He suffered, but did not threaten in return.  Instead, He committed Himself to God and trusted Him.

      Third, we should have personal peace.  Our lives should not be marked by anxiety and stress, but rather a peace that faces all situations with contentment.  Paul’s example in Philippians 4:11-13 demonstrates the peaceful nature we must have.  We should be content in all situations.  No doubt, Paul was able to maintain peace because of his relationship with Christ.  His faith allowed him to look past what was happening at the moment and focus on eternity (Philippians 3:12-14).

      Satan will certainly do his best to destroy our peace with God and others.  He will hurl all manner of stress our way to destroy our peace.  However, this week, let us overcome by focusing on heaven and bearing God-glorifying peace.

Edwin L. Crozier