The Peace of God (7)

Monday, August 10: Galatians 5:22 – 23; Isaiah 32:1 – 2; Luke 21:25 – 28; Revelation 6:3 – 4

 

We live in an age of “the quick fix” – we want instant gratification, instant answers, instant personal and spiritual growth. This quick fix mentality is one of the great enemies of our lives and of the life of the church – and certainly of our society. In the Parable of the Sower the plants that grew quickly were the plants that died – they did not have a root system. In my business career I saw many fast – starters who looked impressive but who, sooner or later, failed when they encountered challenges. In the church I’ve seen more than a few preachers, pastors, ministry leaders who generated excitement but who offered little beyond the superficial – giving people what they wanted rather than challenging people to follow Jesus. Sadly, this quick – fix and superficial approach to ministry often catches up with these “leaders” in their spiritual, moral, and ethical lives.

 

What does this have to do with “what’s in your wallet” and with the peace of Jesus Christ? The peace of Christ is not a commodity, it doesn’t come in a can or a bottle – the peace of Christ comes as we live in relationship with Christ and with one another. Many times people have come to me wanting their lives “fixed”. They want their marriages “fixed”, they want their anxiety “fixed”, they want their fear “fixed”, they want “peace”, they want “hope”, they want “love” – and then they want to get on with life.

 

To know the peace of Christ we must live in relationship with the Christ of peace. The peace of Jesus Christ is a way of life; a way of thinking, feeling, speaking, desiring, giving, loving, praying. The peace of Jesus Christ is also a way of living in mission – being a blessing to others. This brings us to today’s passages.

 

Galatians 5:22 – 23: “Peace” is in the fruit of the Spirit. How can you relate this to yesterday’s readings? How can you see yourself in yesterday’s readings?

 

Isaiah 32:1 – 2: What picture to you see here? How can you see yourself in this passage?

 

Luke 21:25 – 28: In the Bible, the sun, moon, and stars are often images of governing powers in spiritual (unseen) and earthly realms; the sea is often an image of the mass of humanity, with its dangerous unpredictability. Based on these images, this passage portrays upheaval in the heavens (the unseen) and on earth. That which was predictable has become chaotic – note verse 26, “the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (see also Hebrews 12:25 – 29).

 

I’d like us to especially note in verse 26 that “men’s hearts will be failing them for fear” or that men will be “fainting from fear”.

 

Let’s connect this with Revelation 6:3 – 4 where we see that it is granted to the second horseman to “take peace from the earth.”

 

Whatever ultimate context we might want to place Matthew 24:26 and Revelation 6:3 – 4 in, most (if not every) generation has experienced instability, uncertainty, and the dissolution of peace. Nations, continents, the world at large – chaos and upheaval are not new to our generation. Americans, and perhaps especially the American church, think the End Times are upon us when we stub our toes. How would we ever survive in places where war, famine, and persecution are the daily lot of humanity in general and Christians in particular?

 

Here’s my point – when chaos invades the world around us, when men’s hearts fail them for fear, when peace is taken from the earth – how are we going to live? Will we live in the peace of Christ and call others to experience that peace with us – or will we look after ourselves, forgetting that Christ calls to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him?

 

When the world has chaos, the Church has opportunity. When hatred and anger and vitriol are the coinage of the land – we, you and I, are called to use another currency – the peace and reconciling love and grace of Jesus Christ. We will never know the peace of Christ unless we live in relationship with the Christ of peace and share that peace with others – treasure kept to ourselves will rust and decay and poison our hearts.

 

In Christ, will we bear the fruit of the Spirit that includes gentleness and peace? Will we be peacemakers, and thus be recognized as the sons of God? Will we be found on the page of Isaiah Chapter 32?

 

What’s in your wallet?