How deeply God desires us to experience peace – Boots of Peace, Part 5

As we conclude this week’s blog series about the Boots of Peace in the Armor of God, consider what Paul writes about peace in Ephesians 2, verses 11-22:

“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

Do you see how expansive the peace is?  God has made it possible for us have peace with God and peace with others. Jesus’ victory over sin, death and the devil, makes it possible for us to have peace with God because where once we were separated from God because of sin, we now can be brought near to God, so near to God in fact that God the Spirit lives in us! 

Jesus’ victory also compels us to pursue peace with others.  In Paul’s day, there was a very difficult battle raging in many of the churches. It was a battle between Jews and non-Jews.  They came from different ethnicities and cultures, and that difference was like a huge wall between them.  Paul says that Jesus breaks down the wall and brings peace between them.  The two can become one, together citizens of the Kingdom of God. 

Peace, therefore, is more than “war is over.”  Peace is also what we experience as flourishing.  Peace is when things move toward rightness and wholeness in the world.  Jesus brings the opportunity for that kind of peace.  In John 10:10 he called it the abundant life.  It is what happens when God transforms us inwardly so that his Fruit of the Spirit flows out. It is what happens when our relationships are healed.  Our relationship with God and other people.  It is what happens when all forms of injustice in society and culture is eradicated.  When people have enough.  When there is equality, fairness, and flourishing for all. 

This is the expansive kind of peace that we proclaim. 

God also desires that all people experience deep inward peace.  In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul writes that we can experience peace that passes understanding. 

I’ve mentioned in the past that anxiety has been a part of my life, for many years. This part of the armor has special significance to me, as a reminder that we do truly have peace. Most importantly, we have peace with God, and he wants us to experience his peace.  I love how Paul describes it in the Philippians passage, because he says that we can be thankful in all situations as we pray to God, and that God promises his peace. 

No matter what kind of peace you are looking for, it can be found in God. 

When we find peace in God, we then share that peace widely and lavishly.  In other words, we are peacemakers.  We choose to be the people who bring peace in any situation.  We refuse to start drama or add to the drama.  In fact, peacemakers reduce drama.  Peacemakers are what some people call a non-anxious presence. Christians are people who other people want to be around because they do not add to the anxiety of our increasingly anxious world. 

When we are ready to share the Gospel of Peace, we also want people to experience the peace that passes understanding by getting to know the Prince of Peace. 

How are you living the Gospel of Peace?  Christians love others, running towards the goodness of God, guiding people toward reconciliation.

Christians are people who rest in the truth that we have peace with God, and peace in God.  He has won the victory.  He is for you.  No matter the crises or struggles or battles you are facing, look for his peace that passes understanding.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash