Where is your peace?

Shalom, how are you today? There is a lot of unrest and war between people happening in the world today. A malicious neighbour may even make it impossible for one to live in peace. I have often experienced this in my own surroundings and it is sometimes difficult to behave correctly in these situations. We are often challenged and pressurized in life and sometimes I just want to shout “Leave me in peace!” Yes, I long for peace, but who can't understand that. The entire world longs for peace.

When Jesus was born, the angels proclaimed peace on earth (Luke 2:14) and I have been asking myself for some time now where that peace is? Is it not so that He Himself is a cause for disputes between people? In contrast with the proclamation of peace, Jesus said “I came NOT to send peace.” Matthew 10:34 “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”

Christians are being persecuted, even across Europe. Many of our brothers and sisters are being persecuted and murdered for Christ. Due to their decision to follow Christ, they have to live in constant fear and unrest. Open Doors reports constantly with regard to the sad events taking place throughout the world.

However, the cause of the unrest is not only due to worldwide Christian persecution. There is a lot of disagreement and upheaval even within the Body of Christ. One hears about the splitting up of Churches, separation of marriages and families. Peace is not something we find too often, although one should expect it when Jesus is the centre.

We long for peace, when we ourselves are not able to keep peace in our own inner circle. Jesus said: “My peace I give unto you!” (John 14:27) Why is it so hard to live in peace when He gave us His peace. The truth is that we have to first accept that peace, and to do this we first have to make peace with God because Jesus took our tribulations, everything that is bad in this world, upon Himself, so that we could have peace with God. (Isaiah 53:5)

Only when we have peace with Him, are we able to also live in peace within our communities and with anything that we are faced with. We are cautioned to keep peace in every situation, and even to pursue peace (Hebrews 12:14; Psalm 34:15)

I ask you: “Where is your peace and what is your interpretation of the pursuit of peace?” For me, this means to be reconcilable, to take the first step, and if need be to leave well alone even if I feel that I have been ill-treated or that I was in the right. In this manner, for the sake of peace, I want to be led by the Holy Spirit to behave correctly even if it causes me to suffer. In any event the glory belongs to God! Amen.

Romans 12:18 “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”

Be richly blessed

Rosemarie Hojus