Where’s peace? Or is this another moment of TP –thoughts and prayer?

Every year the Nobel Peace Prize is given to the person who has done the most to promote world peace. Alfred Nobel—who amassed a fortune from his patent for nitroglycerin—in his will, stated that the prize should be awarded by a committee of five in the presence of the King of Norway. The Nobel winner receives a diploma, a medal and $1.2 million. Notable winners include the likes of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mother Teresa.  Every year they give a prize for these kinds of peace promoters. We could use more peace promoters because we sure can use more peace considering recent week’s events:

Iran has sent a fresh peace proposal to break a stalemate of a war that is in its second month, one of hundreds of peace agreements, treaties, and proposals in the Middle East since 1948. Where’s the peace? The Russia-Ukraine war, which began on February 24, 2022, has lasted over 4 years and 2 months. Where’s the peace? Last week’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner marks the third time in two years there have been assassination attempts on the president. Again, I ask, “Where’s the peace? Maybe the question is not where’s the peace but, where are the promoters of a different peace. Not all peace is the same. According to John 14:27, there is a peace the world gives, promoted by committees, countries and kings—a temporary peace. Then there is a peace that surpasses all understanding, promoted and provided by the Spirit of the Prince of peace.

We see this peace in the Fruit of the Spirit of Galatians 5:23, 24. It is one of the nine qualities every believer is to possess and promote in their Christian walk—qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control bestowed on the Church on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. John 14: 27 helps us face the realities of an uncertain peace of the world, like that witnessed in Uvalde and the surpassing peace that does the body good. 

First, we see this peace that surpasses is a Christ-given peace different from the world’s peace. Look at part “a” of our primary text, John 14:27:

²⁷ "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, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27a

The Christ-given peace, Eirene, in John 14:27, is a surpassing peace rooted in the Old Testament concept of peace—shalom. This is not the absence of conflict but is a Hebrew view of a positive peace—a confidence amid conflict because of a right relationship with God. David had this confident peace as he “walked through the valley of shadow of death” with God in Psalm 23. 

Christ-given peace is a permanent peace because it is a purchased peace, paid by Christ on the cross and granted as a gift by His Spirit. It is not easily understood, but is taught to us by His Spirit to guard our hearts and minds according to Philippians 4:7:

⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 

When you lose that loved one, God’s guarding your heart from despair. When you lose that troubled relationship, God’s guarding your heart from bitterness. When you lose that church of former glory days, God’s guarding your heart from hopelessness.

Secondly, this Christ-given peace does a body good because this peace cannot be taken away by the world. Look at part “b” of John 14:27:⁷ "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, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27b

The Christ-given peace cannot be taken away by fear and trouble. To promote peace, you must pursue peace according to 1Peter 3:11: He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

Look what good the Fruit of the Spirit of peace brings: reconciliation, reunion, and renewal. First, it brings reconciliation with God, a peace with God: We were once enemies with God because of our sin. But you are at peace with God because you owe nothing for your sins. Christ paid it all. Second, we have reunion with others—a peace with people: This Christ-given peace gave us peace with each other. Through Christ, He fulfilled the law by his atonement on the cross, so we are reunited as one new man, brothers—Jew, Gentile, black, white…

Finally, the third benefit from the Fruit of the Spirit of peace is peace with ourselves through Christ. According to II Corinthians 5:17, we are new creatures in Christ. Unload your baggage of the painful past. We are renewed.

No time for moments of silence. Promote peace. And you don’t need a prize from Nobel. You have the Fruit so you can sing with confidence: “It is Well your Soul, When peace like a river attendeth my way…

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There is no peace without forgiveness. The book, A Forgiving Fire, will guide you that reality. Get it today. Share it with a friend. aforgivingfire.com