What Is Peace?

How do you define the word "Peace"? Is it the absence of war between or among nations? A ceasefire between a verbally fighting couples? Or a winning answer to a beauty pageant? So hard to imagine that some people have a tendency to identify "Peace" in terms of financial security, drugs, alcohol, sex and even relationships. I hope you are not one of them and you have a different way or a real definition for the word "Peace" or should I say, a Christlike way of defining the word peace.

If we go ahead and take a look at how Jesus defines peace, we will notice that He showed us its real meaning when He had peace during temptation (Matthew 4:1-11) , during a storm (Luke 8:22-25), during interrogation (John 18:33-38), and even at the cross (Luke 23:34).

Can we imagine or have the same kind of peace Jesus had during those times? The good news is YES WE CAN! We can have the same peace that He had because Jesus willingly gave it to His disciples or to us. Remember when Jesus said in John 14:27? He says, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."

You maybe then asked, "But how can we have His (Jesus') peace? I would like you to take a look at the whole chapter of John 14, where it talks about the Holy Spirit who dwells in every believer and works through them as each is transformed into the image of Christ. Look if we just abide in the Holy Spirit and walk in every step with Him, the fruit of the holy spirit will naturally be the result of our life with Him, and those are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23).

According to one of the Pastors I've heard preaching about this peace that Jesus gives, there are three words that we should remember and not just remember but also live by to have God's peace and these are RECEIVE, RELEASE and RELY.

As I remember and wrote down my notes about this, here's how he discussed these three words to us.

Receive: God has given us His peace and all we need to do now is respond to it by receiving this peace. Romans 5:1 declares, therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Because of our sin, we are at war with God and in this state we can never find genuine peace. But because God loves us so much( John 3:16), He gave His one and only Son Jesus Christ to pay for all our sins by dying on the cross. When we completely put our faith and trust in Him alone, we will be counted worthy. He will consider us righteous not because of what we have done or who we are but because of Jesus' righteousness and His finished work on the cross. Jesus does not promise us trouble-free life but He guarantees that we can have His peace when we receive Him into our lives.

Release: This one refers to cast all our burdens and worries on Him. 1 Peter 5:7 says: " casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." When we release all our burdens and cares on Him, God supernaturally enables us to conquer them and replaces them with His peace. God will triumph over all our trials no matter how terrible they may seem to be. When we release all our cares and burdens on Him prayer, He will surely give us His peace - one that surpasses all understanding, explanation and imagination, (Philippians 4:6-7)

Rely: This is the last and third one. Sometimes we have a tendency to grab back those anxieties and worries after releasing them to God. We seem to be want in control, to put all those stuff in our own hands. We try to rectify our problems through our own efforts, resources, skills and determination, until we only see ourselves have fallen into the big and deep pit of frustration, despair, discouragement and defeat simply because to put God's role of which we will never succeed doing.

Martin Luther once said: "Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible." And that's the way it should be. When relying in God, we should completely put our faith and trust in Him, never take it back again, obey His instructions even it does not sound illogical and rely on His character and promises. Joshua 23:14 says: "Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you; not one of them has failed."

God does not promise us a life of sunshine that's free from troubles, trials and disappointments. But He assures us that when we go through the storms of life, He will keep a watchful eyes over every single one of us.

Please let me end with this passage from Isaiah 43:2 that says...

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you."

We Are Not Alone

Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour. - Isaiah 43:1-3

Those are some example verses in the bible that we can be sure of difficulties will come in our way while staying here on earth. However the good news about that is God will be with us no matter what, and that's something good to know as for sure we will not be there alone but with God himself.

I understand that it is impossible for us to be spared from all difficulties in this life, but let me give you some encouraging promises from God's word that will certainly reassure you that He will not leave us during these trying times.

"Even though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." - Psalm 23:4 These clearly states that David definitely knew that God would never leave nor forsake Him.

"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world." - John 16:33. This was told to us by Jesus that we can expect to have difficulties in life while living in here and yet at the same time that He will comfort us.

Brothers and Sisters, if you are currently going through troubles, trials and difficulties today, please take in your mind that God has never and will never leave you alone in the middle of this. He will be with you every single minute and seconds of your life especially these times of in need. Ask God to reveal Himself and unfailing love for you.

Let me end this post with passage from Psalm 34:19 "The good man does not escape all troubles - He has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and and everyone."!

Finish The Race

It is not that easy to live a life of being a Christian when you are in a situation or place where most of the people are not believers like you. It feels like you are a small piece of burning coal being placed in the middle of the Antarctic Ocean.

So hard to maintain the fire and seems like everyone around you wants to loose it and eventually become like one of them, and that's what I do not want to happen. I want to continue to live a life of worship and full of thanksgiving to The Lord. I want to finish the race like what Paul did, I want to hear the words from the very lips of Jesus Christ, "Well done my good and faithful servant". I want to run and finish the race until the end.