MEANING TO MEDITATE TO CONFORM: “PEACE”  

This series of blogs on “MEANING TO MEDITATE TO CONFORM” is our invitation to you to come along and slowly think through these words so that we conform to the nature and character of God.  We will present a word each week to meditate on and conform our hearts.   

WORLD DEFINITION  

Peace means “freedom from disturbance” and is also known as “tranquility.”  Most of the time peace is divided between personal inner peace or a state of ‘no war’ between nations.  Peace is freedom from the opposition.  People can be led to peace by governments or politicians or educators, but it is not a lasting peace. 

FOLK/CHURCH USE  

Peace in the Church usually means peace with God and He will “not send you to Hell.”  Peace with God is seen as the product of being saved and is based on the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.  

Jesus is seen as the Prince of Peace (Old Testament and New Testament).  Jesus is the source of peace in a relationship with God.  Faith in Christ leads to peace with God.  This is a normal Christian belief to have freedom from disharmony with God through Jesus.  Here is where “peace” becomes an active part of a person’s life as they seek wisdom and Bible teachings to conform to the way of life God presents in the Bible. 

Things that fight peace: 

Being legalistic 

Following the wrong worldview 

Impatience 

Overly-anything (sensitive, dogmatic, traditional, territorial, worried) 

Selfishness 

BIBLE/THEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE  

In the Old Testament, peace (269x) has a sense of wholeness or fulfillment or completeness and is based on the Hebrew word “shalom.”  This is a God-given peace.  This peace can be physical, emotional, spiritual, or on a national scale.  Peace is also accessing wisdom.  In the New Testament, peace (92x) is grounded in faith in Jesus Christ because of His death on the cross, but also because He imparts peace through a personal relationship with Him.  Peace is also reflecting the Fruit of the Spirit. 

There is a learning curve in sorting out peace.  The state of forgiveness is having peace (and rest) with God.  Being in a state of unforgiveness with God creates tension.  Now, we have relational peace.  Later, believers will have full peace with God at Christ’s coming… but we do have a future full peace.  Peace with God is Kingdom Wisdom lived out and is the fruit of it is grace and mercy and love for those around you. 

MEANING  

Peace is more than something I have or don’t have, but something lost and redeemed.  The redeemed portion of peace is active now.  Peace is a noun. It is a state of being because we conform and become more and more like Christ on earth as it is in heaven.  Peace is a verb in that we must be peacemakers who seek and mediate order especially those who lead people to Christ.  These are active in bringing peace into the world because they know Him.  Peace is an adjective in that how we live describes peace to the world.  We have peace and we are participatory with God because Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  

This series of blogs on “MEANING TO MEDITATE TO CONFORM” is our invitation to you to come along and slowly think through these words so that we conform to the nature and character of God.  We will present a word each week to meditate on and conform our hearts.