Peace

The third characteristic of the Fruit of the Spirit is Peace. Peace is a word used many times in the Bible. It is something that the world at large is concerned with as well. But Peace has many different meanings: a state of tranquility or quiet; harmony in personal relations; a state of mutual concord between governments; a pact or agreement to end hostilities (as in 'negotiated a peace'). To further complicate things, it is sometimes used to ask for silence or calm (as in the marriage ceremony "Hold your peace") and is also used as a greeting or a farewell... (paraphrased from Websters). However, as a characteristic of the Fruit of the Spirit, Peace is also an attribute of God which is given to us through the Holy Spirit. And the Peace of God has a deeper more meaningful part in our spiritual lives, it becomes more than just a calm tranquility or a cessation of conflict.

When I did a word search in the Bible I saw Peace used in all of the different ways listed in Webster's . Sometimes it was a greeting "Peace be unto you.." or used as a farewell (several times in Paul's letters) "Peace be with you.." In the Old Testament there were several mentions of God bringing about Peace between Israel and Judah and their neighbors. Many people were said to have "held their Peace" until a certain time. And Jesus used it as a command to calm the stormy waves "Peace be still". But there are other mentions of Peace in the Bible that have deeper meanings than Webster's lists. When the Bible talks of Peace and God there are three different types of that Peace: Peace with God, Peace from God and the Peace of God.

When it comes to Peace with God, we see this throughout the Old Testament as the Jewish people tried to reconcile themselves to God. "An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy Peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen... "(Exodus 20:24). Peace offerings are mentioned again and again, until in the New Testament when God sent His Son as the ultimate Peace offering. Now we no longer have to worry about making Peace with our Creator for, "being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

Peace from God is something we all desire and it is a topic used several times in the Bible. One of the most well-loved Psalms, Psalm 23, perfectly describes this Peace that comes from God. David knew what Peace from God felt like. It comes from trust in God. David could say "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8) because he trusted and loved God. We too can call upon that peace, it is a gift from a loving God and treasured in times of grief or stress. Unfortunately, it does not come from within but from without. It comes from God and therefore, though David knew what Peace from God was, he still had to ask for it again and again when needed "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?" (Psalm 22:1). Why is this the case? Because Peace from God depends on Peace with God. Which is why Jesus cried out those same words on the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" He was at that moment, no longer at Peace with God! Our sins had separated Him from that Peace.

Now we come to the type of Peace which is a characteristic of the Fruit of the Spirit: the Peace of God. God Himself has great depths of Peace, rather like the picture I used above. The ocean is being tossed about on the surface, but in it's blue depths all is quiet and still. The further down you go, the quieter it gets, until the storm's fury is just a distant memory. Our Creator sees His creation in it's totality, from beginning to end. What we see, on the surface of our storm tossed life, He knows from Eternity's viewpoint. God's Peace is a Peace we can only guess at. To see this kind of unfathomable Peace in our own lives, we need to focus on God through the Holy Spirit given to us by Jesus our Savior. "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7) When we abide in Him and He in us, we will see this kind of Peace growing within us as a Fruit of the Spirit.

As with all the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit, Peace is something that will draw others as it shines out of our lives. The unfathomable Peace of God draws people just as a bunch of juicy grapes or a bright red apple attracts the notice of hungry people passing by. A dramatic example of this is contained in the accounts of survivors of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Amid the chaos and horror, there were pockets of Peace centered around certain people. They drew others to them like beacons of light and small groups began to gather together in prayer while further away in other rooms people were spinning out of control with fear. This is the Peace of God at work in the midst of the storms of life. Jesus had this same calm as He faced the trials in His life, and people came to Him in the same way. And this should be the reason for desiring the Fruits of the Spirit in our lives. We, as the branches, only hold up the fruit of the vine, showing forth its life and beauty so that others can see and be drawn to the strength of that vine. It is not merely to benefit our own lives with the Love, Joy and Peace that flow from a close connection with Jesus. The Fruit of the Spirit is meant to draw others in a desire for the same fruitful connection in their own lives.