“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
May 22, 2024
Until you’re right with God, you’re going to be a troublemaker, not a peacemaker. True peace is only possible through Him. What do we mean by peace? Peace is not appeasement. Appeasement never brings peace. And don’t think that you’re mandated to get along with everybody. There is something wrong with the person who can get along with everybody. Jesus Christ did not get along with everybody, and everybody did not get along with Him. Peace is also not truce-making. A truce may only mean the recess of hostilities. But the conflict can go underground to fester and grow and then perhaps to break out again.
In the Old Testament, and today, modern Jews greet one another with the word Shalom, and that word means, “peace.” When you meet somebody and you say Shalom, that doesn’t mean, “May you get out of war”; it means the deeper peace that only God can bring.
Seek peace with another as the Lord leads you this week.
Just as plants need certain essentials to grow—light, water, and fertile soil—so do new Christians, babes in the faith. Without these essential basic truths of the faith, they will never establish strong roots or bear fruit. What Every Christian Ought to Know is a valuable volume for new Christians and young disciples and a suitably instructive resource for believers of all ages. This new paperback edition includes discussion questions for personal reflection or group study.