Thank you for taking the time to read what the Lord has given me for you today. Hearing the news or living through the events taking place in our world today, can cause us to be fearful and lose our sense of peace. The Lord wants you to know that in the midst of the storms, you can have peace. Glad you are here. Eric

Some years ago, I watched a movie in which all of the contestants in a beauty pageant were asked, “What is your greatest desire?” The response that all of the contestants were expected to give was, “World peace!”

Of course, men have talked of world peace for hundreds of years. Many of the leaders of nations in this world claim they desire peace for their nation. They make plans, make treaties and do everything they can to achieve that peace.

World War 1, the Great War, was proclaimed to be the ‘last’. However, man’s proclivity toward war is unending since man likes to have power, be in control, and thinks he knows best. Man has a penchant for wanting to be his own god.

Peace will not be attained through human effort because people continue to disagree about a plethora of ideals, including religion, government, politics, morals, etcetera. Sadly when you have more than one individual in a room, disagreements can arise.

Genuine peace can only be achieved in One way, and that is our focus for this blog post.

After looking at various definitions of peace, I have come to realize that when “mankind” thinks of ‘peace’ they quite often have a wrong concept and a limited view of the actual definition. The American Heritage Dictionary defines ‘peace’ as: “the absence of war or other hostilities. Freedom from quarrels and harmonious relations.” Merriam-Webster adds, “A state of tranquility or quiet.”

We are going to search the Scriptures to discover how God defines and perceives peace. We will also discover the only way we can attain it!

The Scripture teaches us that our Father God, Creator, and Sustainer of all creation is a God of peace and desires peace for all.

1 Corinthians 14:33a reads, “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” The Greek word translated ‘disorder’ is akatastasia meaning: instability, a state of disorder, disturbance, or confusion.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:16, the apostle Paul acknowledges that God is the Lord of peace himself when he states, “May the Lord of peace himself give you His peace.” "‘Eirene’, the Greek word translated ‘peace’ in this verse means: the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, whatever sort that is, the Lord who is the author and promoter of peace.

God’s desire is that His people would have a deep abiding peace at all times and in every way. In fact, Romans 14:17 (ESV) reads, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” The ‘kingdom’, (basileia in the Greek, meaning: the perfect order or things Jesus was about to establish, those dedicated and intimately united to God,) is defined in this verse as righteousness, peace, and joy! ‘Righteousness’ (dikaiosyne) means integrity, virtue, purity of life, uprightness, correctness in thinking, feeling and acting. ‘Peace’ (eirene), in this verse means: harmony and peace between individuals. “Joy’ (chara) is gladness, calm delight, and cheerfulness. You see, the ‘Kingdom’ of God is not a place, not a government, not a political ideology. It is not a geographical location but, it is individuals who are dedicated to and intimately united to God. Also, the Kingdom, individuals (you and I) will be exemplified as a life with integrity, virtue, purity, correctness in thinking, feeling, and acting. We will have joy, or calm delight, gladness, and be cheerful. As a Christian, a believer in Christ, we comprise the Kingdom of God!

Psalm 29:11 (NKJV) is good news for us! “The LORD will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.” This verse does not say the Lord ‘won’t,’ ‘can’t’, or ‘might’ bless His people with peace. It says the Lord will bless His people with peace. If you are in a personal relationship with God, you have this promise. The word translated ‘peace’ in this verse is shalom. This Hebrew word means: peace with God, especially for those in covenant relationship with Him; it means, health, prosperity, quiet, tranquility, contentment, and welfare. Wow! But wait, that is only the beginning!

Even though it is God’s desire that there be peace in the world, He knew that there was only One way for man to attain it. In order for us to understand the full significance of what that peace is comprised of we need to comprehend the Biblical definition of peace!

The Old Testament word used in this teaching which has been translated ‘peace’ is shalom. All inclusively, the word ‘shalom’ means: peace, completeness, wholeness, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, and the absence of agitation or discord. You see, ‘shalom’ is so much more than the absence of war and conflict. Shalom is the wholeness that the entire human race seeks.

Eirene, the Greek word used in the New Testament and translated ‘peace,’ comes from the root word eiro which means: to join; one, set at one again. Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” Our relationship with God, which had been severed by sin, has been restored by the shedding of the blood of Christ for us on the cross!

The meanings of eirene are: a state of rest, quietness, calmness, and an absence of strife and tranquility. It generally denotes a perfect well-being and includes harmonious relationships between God and men, men and men, nations and families. Jesus, as the Prince of Peace gives peace to those who call upon Him for personal salvation.

Jesus stated in John 14:27 (NKJV), "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” ‘Leave’ (aphieme) means to go away, leaving something behind and to leave so that what is left may remain. ‘Give’ (didomi) means: to give forth from oneself, to furnish, or endue. Praise God! He is the Prince of Peace and He left His attribute of peace here for us and endued us with it! This gift which we have been given, His peace inside us, is what enables us to have an abiding peace in spite of our circumstance.

One of the names and attributes of Jesus that was prophesied in Isaiah 9:6 is Prince of Peace. It indicated a reign characterized by shalom - health, well-being, prosperity, happiness, and cessation of enmity! Then, Ephesians 2:14a also reveals that He is peace. According to the textual notes in the New Spirit Filled Life Bible, “The essence of peace is dual; to cause a ceasing from separation as well as a ceasing from strife. Peace means ’to be united with‘ as well as ’to bring an end to hostility'.’

When Christ was born, the angels announced to the shepherds that Peace had come to earth. His purpose in coming was to redeem mankind from sin so that peace with God could be restored to all creation. There is only one way to peace and that is the way God provided, through the redemptive blood of Jesus. Colossians 1:19 and 20 (NKJV), “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” What an amazing truth!

Those who have a personal relationship with God through Christ will spend eternity in the presence of God and peace, in all it’s splendor! Psalm 37:37 reads, “Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.”

We look forward to being in that place of perfect peace. Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." Matthew 6:20, “Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” Ephesians 1:9 and 10, "God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ--everything in heaven and on earth.”

I encourage you to seek and pursue peace. Choose to let the peace of Christ rule in your heart! Psalm 34:14 (NKJV), “Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.” Colossians 3:15 (NKJV), “ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Then, there is Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

Before I close today, I want to share with you the Aaronic blessing given to the children of Israel and to us, as those who have been grafted into the family. ‘Bless’ means an increase in prosperity. Yahweh will ‘keep’ the worshiper from harm. ‘Make His face shine upon you’ implies the Lord will be gracious or favorable to the worshiper.

According to gotquestions.com, “Peace, shalom is more than just an absence of warfare but a completeness, wholeness, and maturity. We have been granted peace through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Prayer is the active means by which we can experience this peace (Philippians 4:6 and 7). Jesus has granted us all things in this blessing. He has granted them to us on a permanent basis.” Praise God!

Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV):

“The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

Pursue peace.

Choose peace.

Follow peace.

Pursue, choose, and follow Jesus.

He is your peace.

Unless otherwise noted all Scripture is taken from the New Living Translation.

ESV English Standard Version

NKJV New King James Version

NIV New International Version