"I have a peace about it" is a platitude used in Christian circles as a meter for decision-making. You often hear a Christian express their sense of peace before a big decision such as taking up the right job, moving to a different country, dating or marrying the right person. Is this absence of conflict before decision-making indicative of our will being aligned with God's? Could we convince ourselves into thinking "God has given us a real peace about it" but we are actually preoccupied with our own will and not His?
What does the bible say about peace? Peace, as used in the Bible, appears in four different contexts - peace between God and us, peace between ourselves (as in treaties), peace within ourselves and counterfeits of peace or false promises of peace. First described in the Old Testament, peace addresses the enmity between God and men and enmity between men and each other. Hence, the good news, also referred to as the Gospel of peace by Paul, is concerned with redressing consequences of the fall. There is also a peace for our perpetual internal enmity, promised by Jesus in John 14:27, as a parting gift - the gift of rest and tranquility. _________________________________________________________ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. - John 14:27 NIV _________________________________________________________ Lastly, false teachers or deceitful people proclaim a counterfeit peace over God's people. I also think there is a counterfeit peace we can get when we choose to have our own way and our own will. We can get a sense of ‘peace’ even when we have short-circuited the Holy Spirit in us. We should be careful not to trick ourselves that we are spiritually fulfilled. Our prayer should be to discern the difference between the peace Jesus gifts and the counterfeit peace that deceives us. Esther and Paul Sometimes, when faced with a difficult situation or a decision to make, the heart of the matter is in trusting God rather than the decision itself. Then, our personal convictions can still give us a sense of peace or courage to do what needs to be done. Esther’s personal conviction to put her life in danger for the saving of the Jews and Paul’s conviction to accept the possibility of death if he preached the Gospel in Jerusalem are good examples of this. _________________________________________________________ "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.– Esther 4:16 Then Paul answered, Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." - Acts 21:13 _________________________________________________________ Esther and Paul were both aware of the possibility of suffering and even the possibility of death but their personal convictions were for a bigger purpose. In their case, peace is not used as some kind of gauge to go ahead with a decision. I imagine their resolution is that they will do it scared, despite the reality of danger and despite the internal enmity. In fact, Paul personally knew the kind of peace that cannot be lessened by trouble or opposition. He understood that the presence of peace is not the absence of trouble. His letter to the Philippians, written while he was in a Roman prison, addresses how to cultivate joy in times of trouble. Only after he is arrested as he foresaw, does he talk about the gift of peace that transcends all human understanding (Philippians 4:7). The garden of Gethsemane What transpired in the garden of Gethsemane is a perfect model of how our decision-making can be. Jesus had retreated into deep prayer and agony, before the most important decision of his life. The bible recounts that he retreated from the disciples three times and only after the third time, was he resolute about what was to come next – his arrest and crucifixion. Hebrews 12:2 gives an account of Jesus’s resolution, “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”. I guess the trick is to lead a spirit-led life. Peace, being a fruit of the spirit, is then accessible to us even in times of making tough decisions. I guess the gist is for us not to trick ourselves that we are spiritually fulfilled, to think we are hearing from God whereas we might be hearing from our earthly desires.
4 Comments
Matshie
4/23/2020 02:51:20
It's shocking that what we consider as peace is actually us doing what we want regardless of what God says. Counterfeit peace.
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Rea
4/24/2020 17:34:43
Hi Matshie
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Larnelle
7/19/2020 09:58:30
Rea this is amazing! You are a blessing. Your words are a blessing. Thank you for allowing God to use you.
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Rea
8/7/2020 06:37:01
Thank you for the encouragement beautiful woman!
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