Peace be with you…

Today we think of peace in different forms, such as having peace of mind if we know all is well, or if someone dies we say that they are at peace. If you don’t want to say something you hold your peace. When there is war going on people seek for peace from it. We see peace as either a state of mind or state of the environment that we live in, like when you are in an area and you say that it is so peaceful there. But is all peace equal and if not then there must be something that sets them apart.

When Jesus speaks to his disciples about peace is he referring to what we call peace today? Simply put the answer is no. When we read these scriptures below the peace that is spoken of in not simply a feeling or state of mind, it goes beyond that. For example let us look at Matthew 10:13 and Luke 10:5, 6.

Matthew 10:13 “And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.”

Luke 10:5-6 “And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. [6] And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.”

If I was speaking of a state of mind or feeling then regardless of the outcome I would always have my peace, but for your peace to remain there if they are worthy or to leave because they are unworthy then this kind of peace is neither. I could call it either a supernatural form of peace or even a spiritual blessing of peace that goes beyond our comprehensible world. Jesus was speaking of either giving or taking away a blessing from those that are worthy or unworthy of such a gift. Paul knowingly or unknowing touched on this understanding in Galatians 5:22, 23.

Galatians 5:22, 23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,[23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

This understanding will also open up the rest to a better understanding that they too are gifts and not what we see them to be in our world. Maybe at some later date I will talk on them, but for now I will leave that up to you to think on how those other fruits of the spirit can be spiritual gifts that go beyond our own worldly understanding.

In John14:27 Jesus points out that there is a difference between the peace that he offers to us compared to what is in the world. The gift of peace that Jesus offers to his own is a spiritual gift that far exceeds what we know and feel in this world. Peace can be a blessing when given and a curse when it is taken away.

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Jesus blesses his disciples with this gift of peace, along with those that would come after, but the world he curses by not freely giving it the peace that he has to offer. It is not that Jesus is cruel, but that the world is unworthy of it. It would be similar to the parable of the pig and dog in Matthew 7:6. It is the world that would not appreciate the gift that Jesus offers. Just look at the world and you can see how it appreciates the sacrifice that Jesus has made. They have trampled on his sacrifice and they have turned on his followers. So, no Jesus is not cruel in holding back his gift of peace from the world, he was showing justice in doing so.

Matthew 7:6 “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”

In Matthew 10:34 and Luke 12:51 Jesus plainly speaks that he did not come to bless the world with peace and again I would say why should he, when the world thinks it does not need Jesus or his Father to bring about peace on earth. If it was in our power to bring peace about on earth why haven’t we yet? It is not that we didn’t have enough time to do it, it is the simple fact that mankind is incapable to bring about peace on his own. Just look around and you will see that peace is actually leaving the earth faster than it has before. All the technology and so called increase in knowledge has not brought us closer to peace but farther away. The main reason is that the world does not understand that peace, true peace, is a gift and a blessing from The Almighty and until the world realizes that it will never have it. Don’t hold your breath waiting for the world to ever realize that, considering that not even the “Christian” world understands it.

Matthew 10:34 “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”

Luke 12:51 “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:”

Peace is something we need to pray more for, not just to have, but to help sustain us through our lives that we live while we are on the earth. It is this spiritual gift of peace that aides us in overcoming trials and tribulations that we will face while we are yet alive down here. This is a gift that we can also give to others that are worthy of such a gift and we should not squander such a gift by giving it out to anyone, just to have them turn on us later.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

As I mentioned before this is a gift that we truly need to ask for from The Almighty, so when those days of trouble come upon us we will have that peace to help carry us through and if possible be seen by those that cause us the trouble to ask or ponder how we can contain such peace during that time. Let it become a witness that may in turn bring someone to the LORD.