Crumbs 27

 

Crumbs from the Master ‘s Table 27 : Peace

John 14:25-27 NIV“All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 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.

Crumbs

Peace, the aspect of the fruit of the Spirit was vital to the New Testament writers. Paul, Peter, John, Jude, James all use it in their openings in their epistles. John uses it in Revelation. Often it is linked with grace I have heard that this is a formal greeting used to approach Gentiles with grace and the imparting of peace, an Old Testament concept, to appeal to the Jews. Grace gives birth to peace. “By grace are ye saved”.

I do not like defining ideas negatively, but with peace I think it is helpful. It is the absence of conflict. There are four areas of conflict that require divine peace; heaven, a person’s relationship with God, a person’s relationship with their fellows and their relationship within them selves.

In Revelation 12:7 we learn there was conflict in the spirit realm. Peace came with God’s victory. The fracture between God and humanity caused by humanity’s rebellion was sorted at the cross. Of Christ it is written He is our peace. The history of the world and the history of the church have one thing in common; conflict. The Scripture reveals how the God of peace passionately desires peace. Finally there is the conflict in each of us between the lusts of the flesh and the aspirations of the Spirit. The prince of peace is the resolution of this conflict. In 1 Corinthians 7:15 we are called to live in peace. In Ephesians 4: 3 we are called to preserve the Spirit’s bond of peace. It is a gift that reqires use and development in our lives

The concept of peace can be seen throughout the Scriptures. In them God is known as the God of peace.

Queries ( for private thought or joint discussion)

1. How is this peace of God given to us? 2. How could the peace of God affect our state of mind? 3.What can we do to preserve and promote, peace ?

 Please note that this is also published on my blog along with poems and other items on https://pmgsblog.blogspot.com