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 | Peace is defined as "an absence of civil disturbance or hostilities, or a personality free from internal and external strife." This is such a simple word, but the act itself actually proves difficult at times, especially in today's world. The Bible uses a Hebrew word for peace which means "to be complete or whole; to live well." How beautiful is that? Who wouldn't like to say they've lived their lives well? Fortunately for us, our God is a God of peace. |
Many times in the Bible, those who were favored by the Lord were blessed with peace in their homes and the surrounding areas. In Leviticus, God promises to give peace while His people rest comfortably. But the past was no place for sleep. In fact, throughout most of history, nighttime was incredibly dangerous.
Once Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, humankind had a more difficult time acquiring food. They were no longer under the safety and comfort of their previous home. Until they became skilled in agriculture in this new, often dry, land, people were constantly on the move, searching for sources of food and trying to avoid predators. Because they moved often, there was no time to build up fortifications for protection. This meant that humans were at the height of vulnerability while they were sleeping. For God to allow His people to sleep without fear, they must have had the utmost trust in Him. Even if they were surrounded by an enemy's armies or stalked by fierce predators, He promised to keep them from harm.
God offers this same peace still. Even today, if we only trust in Him and keep our minds fixed on Him, we will be given that same peace. As counterintuitive as it sounds, peace is something we must fight for. We have to make a conscious decision every day to trust God so that He will give us a peace that passes all understanding. How can we practice trusting Him?
Fear and fighting are common hindrances we all face, but thankfully, God provides a way for us to conquer them. Focus on Him, trust His power, and allow His peace to fill your hearts and minds.
Once Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, humankind had a more difficult time acquiring food. They were no longer under the safety and comfort of their previous home. Until they became skilled in agriculture in this new, often dry, land, people were constantly on the move, searching for sources of food and trying to avoid predators. Because they moved often, there was no time to build up fortifications for protection. This meant that humans were at the height of vulnerability while they were sleeping. For God to allow His people to sleep without fear, they must have had the utmost trust in Him. Even if they were surrounded by an enemy's armies or stalked by fierce predators, He promised to keep them from harm.
God offers this same peace still. Even today, if we only trust in Him and keep our minds fixed on Him, we will be given that same peace. As counterintuitive as it sounds, peace is something we must fight for. We have to make a conscious decision every day to trust God so that He will give us a peace that passes all understanding. How can we practice trusting Him?
- Talk with God daily. Tell Him everything, but above all, take the time to listen.
- Resist evil. Focus on things that are pleasing to God, and He will draw near.
- Listen to the Holy Spirit. God sent a helper to act as a guide for His people; let Him.
Fear and fighting are common hindrances we all face, but thankfully, God provides a way for us to conquer them. Focus on Him, trust His power, and allow His peace to fill your hearts and minds.
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 | We live in troubled times, but we are fortunate to have peace through Jesus Christ. As His followers, we are responsible for spreading news of that peace to others, in both word and deed. How often do we show the love of Christ to those who are not like us? |
The Bible shows clear distinctions between Jews, biological descendants of Abraham, and Gentiles, or non-Hebrew descendants of Abraham. Once Jesus was sent to the cross, however, those distinctions became blurred. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For [we] are all one in Christ Jesus. In fact, Christ's death on the cross meant the death of hostility among God's people.
But the reality is that we live in a world with people who are very different. In the United States alone, we are surrounded by rich and poor, black and white, young and old, believers and atheists. So when we consider the outside world as well, how can we focus on becoming a unified body of believers?
We can start by:
Remember, without diversity, unity is meaningless. It's easy to portray a Christ-like example of unity with those who share the same backgrounds and similar views, but we are called to establish that unity with all believers. It's time to step up, be the Church, and unite our town, our nation, and our world.
But the reality is that we live in a world with people who are very different. In the United States alone, we are surrounded by rich and poor, black and white, young and old, believers and atheists. So when we consider the outside world as well, how can we focus on becoming a unified body of believers?
We can start by:
- Removing any preconceived notions of others. In God's eyes, we are all the same. Don't let others' backgrounds get in the way of establishing a genuine relationship.
- Surrendering to God's purpose, rather than promoting our own. Begin to seek God's will every day. His plans for you involve operating within the body of Christ. Ask Him to give you the willingness and the ability to create meaningful relationships and work toward a common goal.
- Appreciating diverse styles of life. God created all of us with different personalities, different quirks, and even different styles of worship. Don't expect everyone to behave exactly like you.
Remember, without diversity, unity is meaningless. It's easy to portray a Christ-like example of unity with those who share the same backgrounds and similar views, but we are called to establish that unity with all believers. It's time to step up, be the Church, and unite our town, our nation, and our world.