The fruit of the spirit: Peace
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” (Galatians 5:22) O ne of the greatest paradoxes of any age throughout the history of mankind, including our present time, is the paradox of peace. In every age, man has cried for peace, desiring a “cease-_re” from hatred or violence.
Many may recall the “summer of love” when thousands of young people gathered in San Francisco to express their desire for “peace and love” in protest against the Vietnam War and social injustices that were taking place in many places.
During the late 1950’s and through the 1960’s, the cry for peace came from those on the frontlines of the Civil Rights movement as the demand for equality and justice rang throughout the United States. In the early 1990’s, we were all familiar with the slogan “Peace in the Middle East” which is a cry that has reemerged with the conict between Israel and Palestine. This cry continues to ring out as many still desire peace between Russia and Ukraine as many lives have been lost in this terrible conict.
Indeed, the cry for peace is one of the greatest paradoxes known to man, as many desire peace but will commit violent acts to accomplish this peace.
Jesus commands His followers to bear fruit (John 15:1-8). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pronounced a state of blessing upon those that would live peaceful lives: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). Christians are warned of the dangers of living in this present world, knowing the world will hate us, but although we will have tribulation in this world, we can have peace in Jesus Christ (John 16:33). We are commanded to live peaceably with all men (Rom. 12:18), but at the same time we can expect tribulation and persecution (1 Peter 4:12-16). Among the many fruits produced by the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) is “peace” and as Jesus commands His followers to be bearers of fruit, we must take heed to the Bible’s instructions and make sure we are producing the correct fruits in our lives.
How is it possible to produce peace in a world of chaos and confusion?
When sin was introduced to this world in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), Satan gave way to hatred and the chaos that is seen even in this present age.
After reading of the sin of Adam and Eve, we read of the _rst recorded murder as Cain killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4).
According to Jesus, Satan was a “murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth” (John 8:44) and the source of the lack of peace in this world can be attributed to Satan and those that do his bidding.
The Gospel, on the other hand, has been given so we may be instructed in ways of peace. Christians are to arm themselves with the armor of God, “having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15). The message of the Gospel is a message of peace and those that live by it must preach this peace to those that are lost (Rom. 10:15).
Why is there a lack of peace in the world? Just as Hosea summarized, “my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6), and if man continues to reject God’s Word, they will continue to deny true peace which comes from God’s instructions.
Those that desire to be the “sons of God” (1 John 3:1) must be imitators of Him (Eph. 5:1). Our Father in heaven is the God of peace (Rom. 15:33, Rom. 16:20; 1 Cor. 14:33; Phil. 4:9). Our Father, who is the God of peace, sent His only begotten Son into this world to become the “Prince of Peace”(Isa. 9:6), and would be called Immanuel, which is translated “God with us” (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23), and the source of true peace would be offered through the shedding of His blood on the cross (Matt. 26:28).
Jesus would establish a peaceful kingdom (Matt.
16:18-19) which is unlike the kingdoms of this world (John 18:36); those that are citizens of this kingdom are to be people of peace (Col. 3:15).
One of the fruits produced by the Spirit’s instruction is “peace”. Peace can be de_ned as “the absence of discord” and might be best illustrated as a “symphony” in which every instrument is in tune with one another which results in a pleasing melody. Such peace is found among those that desire to seek those things which are above (Phil. 4:8-9), allowing the inspired Word of God to be our guide in all that we do (Col.
3:17; Psalm 119:105).
This peace will lead to one bearing the burdens of others (Gal. 6:2), it will endure and be kind (1 Cor. 13:4), it will desire the best for others, it will not be envious of others, and in times of need it is supplied when we let our petitions be made known unto God (Phil. 4:6-7).
The world, at large, does not know this peace. Satan is our adversary and is seeking those whom he may devour (John 10:10), and many are devoured because of a lack of peace, which will lead to an eternity of no peace and eternal destruction (Matt.
25:41). Those that will bear the fruit of the Spirit, taking heed to the instruction of God’s Word, can be people of peace, knowing the time will come when our labors will be over, and we can enjoy an eternity of peace with God (Rev. 14:13; Rev. 21:4).
Jeremy Thornton is Minister of Highway 77 Church of Christ in Marion, Arkansas.
Jeremy Thornton
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