Psalm 29, Romans 5:1-11, Philippians 4:2-9,
“The LORD gives his people strength; the LORD blesses his people with peace.”
Psalm 29:11
“…we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:1
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:7
Through Jesus Christ we are at peace with God (reconciled). This is also expressed as being God’s children, the LORD’s people. So, God gives us strength. This strength, the promise fulfilled through Christ, is a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Peace isn’t a one-time thing. Peace is not something that just happens. Peace is hard work. For us to be reconciled to God (“…peace with God…”), the Son of God came to earth, became one of us, and died for all of us. If Jesus died for this peace, why do we ever think it is easy?
It takes strength to be at peace. It takes effort to be at peace. “That person cut me off, they…” Be at peace? Have you driven around here? Just driving can cause one to not be at peace with the people around them! Then there are the family, work, church and general people dynamics which just makes being at peace hard!
PEACE IS HARD WORK! “I’m at peace about this.” If one is truly at peace about something, there was effort involved. Sometimes we are at “peace” because we are fatalistic about it. Sometimes we are at “peace”, because we “know” the end result. Sometimes we are at peace because we surrendered it to God.
1) Why do you think “spiritual” peace is viewed as something “just” given?
2) Have you ever had to work really hard to be at peace about something?
3) Should you feel guilty about having to work at being at peace?
4) Is being at peace worth the effort?
KD) Are you at peace with God? If not, why not? If you are, how?
