Fruit of the Spirit: Peace

Fruit of the Spirit: Peace

in Galatians 5:22-23, there is a kind of a checklist to see how we are doing in our Christian walk. It’s what the Bible calls the Fruit of the Spirit. Every Christian should exhibit these qualities in some way. The first items on the list, love and joy, should flow from the life of every Christian.

The next characteristic is peace. The Bible looks at peace like this: you and I are at war with God. Yes ... you read that right ... at war.

James 4:4

"...do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

The world sees God as an enemy. We all know people out there who would love to see the Christianity go away and erase the name of God from every text book and magazine ever written. But, there is something different about those darn Christians. Romans 5:2 puts it best:

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Why is the Christian different? We have made peace with God. We love Him and we have become friends with Him. The world around us doesn't understand that. Philippians 4:7 says that the peace we have surpasses all understanding.

The fact is that most people don't even know that there is a war going on. They don’t understand why there are people out there who can be happy and peaceful even when the world is raging around them.

The peace that Christians experiences doesn’t mean everyone will love us and treat us well. What it means is that we have found friendship with God and we now experience peace with Him every day and in all things.

That’s what the non Christian should see in you and me. They should notice that our lives are different. They are peaceful.

Are you at peace with God? Did you know that there is such a thing? Peace like that only comes through Jesus.

Isaiah 9:6

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."