The Practice of Godliness: Godliness has value for all things (19 page)
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Authors: Jerry Bridges
BOOK: The Practice of Godliness: Godliness has value for all things
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13
Peace
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18
Untold millions of dollars are spent annually in search of peace. Every year thousands of people seeking personal or family peace flock to professional counselors. Diplomats fly around the world pursuing peace between nations. Our court systems are jammed with cases arising from a breakdown of peace between individuals or corporations.
Christians are not exempt from this turmoil of a sinful world. We, too, experience the anxiety of disquieting circumstances and the anguish of broken relationships.
But peace should be a hallmark of the godly person, first because it is a Godlike trait: God is called the God of peace several times in the New Testament. He took the initiative to establish peace with rebellious men, and He is the author of both personal peace as well as peace among men. Peace should be part of our character also because God has promised us His peace, because He has commanded us to let peace rule in our lives and relationships, and because peace is a fruit of the Spirit and therefore an evidence of His working in our lives.
A close look at Scripture reveals that peace is actually threefold:
peace with God
These are not three parallel but unrelated types of peace; rather, they are three different expressions of one peace—the peace that God gives, which is called the fruit of the Spirit. These different facets complement and reinforce one another, producing an overall character trait. Each aspect has unique characteristics that contribute in varying ways to the life of a man or woman of peace.
PEACE WITH GOD
The basis of our peace with God is our justification by faith in Jesus Christ. Scripture says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). This is the point at which all peace begins. We cannot have peace within or peace with other people until we first have peace with God.
Prior to our salvation, because we were born in sin, our relationship to God was characterized by alienation and enmity (Colossians 1:21). We were objects of His wrath, in a state of rebellion against Him. Even though the religious stupor in which we lived and the particular circumstances which surrounded us may have given us a false sense of peace, in reality we were “like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud,” because, as God has said, “There is no peace for the wicked” (Isaiah 57:20-21).
Upon entering a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, however, all this changes. Instead of being opposed to us, God is now for us. Instead of leaving us to the mercy of circumstances, He promises to work in all of them for our good (Romans 8:28). Proverbs 16 tells us that He even promises to make our enemies live at peace with us.
Peace with God, then, is the foundation of peace within ourselves and peace with other people. This foundation does not guarantee, of course, that these other aspects of peace occur automatically. We must pursue what makes for peace, both within and without, in dependence upon the Holy Spirit, realizing that the fruit of peace is His fruit, not ours.
PERSONAL PEACE
One of the petty offenses for which we arrest people is disturbing the peace. Even though a Christian has experienced peace
with
God, there are certain “disturbers of the peace” that keep him from experiencing the peace of God. Like the noisy or quarrelsome offenses against society, these disturbers are often petty in nature. The more calamitous events in our lives usually force us to turn to the Lord with all our hearts, and, in so doing, we experience His grace and peace. But the more ordinary adversities of life rob us of peace because we have a tendency to try to deal with these events ourselves. We worry, fret, and scheme over distressing circumstances, and we envy or resent other people who appear to get a better deal in life, or who mistreat us in some way.
with
God, there are certain “disturbers of the peace” that keep him from experiencing the peace of God. Like the noisy or quarrelsome offenses against society, these disturbers are often petty in nature. The more calamitous events in our lives usually force us to turn to the Lord with all our hearts, and, in so doing, we experience His grace and peace. But the more ordinary adversities of life rob us of peace because we have a tendency to try to deal with these events ourselves. We worry, fret, and scheme over distressing circumstances, and we envy or resent other people who appear to get a better deal in life, or who mistreat us in some way.
As Jesus finished talking to His disciples on the evening of His betrayal, He concluded with these words: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). In this assurance of peace Jesus made two promises.
His first promise was that we will have trouble in the world. The same circumstances that rob us of our joy also rob us of our peace. The common denominator of all these circumstances is uncertainty. A loved one is ill, and the diagnosis is uncertain. Or our car breaks down while on a trip; will we have enough money to pay for repairs and perhaps extra meals and lodging? How will we get to our destination in time? Our luggage fails to arrive with us on an airline flight. Will we ever see it again? What will we do until it is returned to us? These and countless other circumstances continue to prove that Jesus was indeed correct when He promised us that we will have trouble in the world.
But the second promise that Jesus made was just as correct. He has overcome the world. Ephesians 1:22 tells us that “God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be the head over everything for the church”; that is, Jesus has been appointed head over everything
on behalf
of the church. He has power over all the universe, and He exercises it on our behalf and for our good. In Matthew 10:29-31, Jesus tells us that not even a sparrow can fall to the ground apart from the will of our Father. And even the very hairs of our head are all numbered. No detail is too small or minute that it escapes the Father’s eye and attention. And now Jesus in His ascended glory exercises that same watchful care on our behalf.
on behalf
of the church. He has power over all the universe, and He exercises it on our behalf and for our good. In Matthew 10:29-31, Jesus tells us that not even a sparrow can fall to the ground apart from the will of our Father. And even the very hairs of our head are all numbered. No detail is too small or minute that it escapes the Father’s eye and attention. And now Jesus in His ascended glory exercises that same watchful care on our behalf.
So why do we worry? Because we do not believe. We are not really convinced that the same Jesus who can keep a sparrow in the air knows where our lost luggage is, or how we are going to pay that auto repair bill, or how we can get to our destination on time. Or if we believe that He
can
deliver us through our difficulties, we doubt if He
will.
We let Satan sow seeds of doubt in our minds about His love and care for us.
can
deliver us through our difficulties, we doubt if He
will.
We let Satan sow seeds of doubt in our minds about His love and care for us.
Two passages of Scripture will prove most helpful to us in coming to Him to find peace. The first is Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The great antidote to anxiety is to come to God in prayer. We are to pray about
everything.
Nothing is too big for Him to handle, and nothing is too small to escape His attention.
everything.
Nothing is too big for Him to handle, and nothing is too small to escape His attention.
Paul also declares that we are to come to God with thanksgiving. We should thank Him for His past faithfulness in delivering us from troubles (remembrance of past mercies is a great stimulus to present faith). We should thank Him for the fact that He is in control of every single circumstance of our lives, and that nothing can touch us that He does not allow. We should thank Him that in His infinite wisdom He is able to work in this circumstance for our good, and that because of His love, He would not have allowed it if it were not for our good. Finally, we can thank Him that He will not allow us to be tempted (either a seduction to evil, or a trial of our faith; both ideas are included in the word) beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).
The result promised to us when we come to God in prayer with thanksgiving is not deliverance, but the peace of God. One of the reasons we don’t find this peace is because all too often we will not settle for anything other than deliverance
from
the trouble. But God, through Paul, promises us peace, a peace that is unexplainable. It transcends all understanding. And, says Paul, it will guard our hearts and minds against the anxiety to which you and I are so prone.
from
the trouble. But God, through Paul, promises us peace, a peace that is unexplainable. It transcends all understanding. And, says Paul, it will guard our hearts and minds against the anxiety to which you and I are so prone.
Now if you are like me, you are probably thinking, “That all sounds very nice, and I agree with you intellectually right now. But when I am in the midst of a trying situation, I really don’t experience that peace. What’s wrong?”
I suggest two steps to take when in this kind of dilemma. First, examine your motives—you may want deliverance instead of peace. Are you looking for the wrong answer? Second, look to the Holy Spirit to bring you that peace. Remember, peace is the fruit of the Spirit. It is His work to produce peace within you. Your responsibility is to come in prayer, asking for the peace, and looking to Him for it.
I doubt that any Christian is more vulnerable to worry and fretfulness than I am. I sympathize with others who are also prone to anxiety. I am well aware that it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we can experience His peace. But God tells us in His word that His peace is available, and we must not be content until we experience it. We must persevere in prayer until He answers.
In addition to Philippians 4:6-7, a second passage of Scripture that can help us deal with anxiety is 1 Peter 5:7-9: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” In the next verse Peter tells us to be alert to the devil, who prowls around looking for someone to devour. One of the many ways in which the devil tries to devour us is related to the meaning of his name. The Greek word for devil means “accuser,” or “slanderer.” As the prince of slanderers, he accuses man before God, but he also slanders God to man. One of the thoughts that often enters our minds when we are undergoing some trial is, “If God really loved me He would not have allowed this to happen to me.” Or, “If God loved me, He would provide a way out of this trying situation.”
Such thoughts come from the devil; failure to recognize this origin causes two problems. First, we assume those thoughts originate within our own hearts, so we add a sense of guilt for thinking harsh thoughts about God to our already anxious mind. Now we have both anxiety and guilt to contend with, compounding our problem. Second, we fight the wrong battle. Instead of resisting the devil, we try to deal with our own wicked hearts. Although there are plenty of times when we do have to deal with our own wicked hearts, this is not one of them: this is a time to resist the devil. We have a very clear command, coupled with a promise: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
This is the Bible’s solution to a lack of peace within ourselves : Take our anxieties to God in thankful prayer, and resist the devil when he slanders God to us. Only when we have experienced peace
with
God, through bringing our anxieties to Him, are we able to deal with the third aspect of peace: peace with other people. Inner conflict and turmoil often result in conflict with others, so we must achieve inner peace to effectively pursue peace with others.
with
God, through bringing our anxieties to Him, are we able to deal with the third aspect of peace: peace with other people. Inner conflict and turmoil often result in conflict with others, so we must achieve inner peace to effectively pursue peace with others.
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