Introduction:
God is not the author of confusion. (1 Corinthians 14:33 NRSV)
If there is anything that is common to the identity crises that exist in our world, today, it is confusion. When a church family is found to be in disorder and chaos, division and conflict, there is obviously a problem. It was into that kind of problem that Paul was speaking in 1 Corinthians. Where once the pure truth of the gospel had reigned in the hearts and minds of these believers, confusion and disorder now ruled the day. Where once there was peace, conflict abounded.
Adam and Eve, created in the image of God had perfect peace. The whole of creation was theirs to enjoy. Every need was supplied for them. They were never hungry. Disease and pain did not exist for them. Perfect beauty and order surrounded them and reigned in their hearts. They were never lonely, because they had one another, and more importantly, they enjoyed a perfect and intimate relationship with their Creator. Their life was the picture of shalom. The condition of that peace existed as long as they obeyed the will of their Creator. When they chose to deny the authority of the truth of their Creator and satisfy themselves according to the deception of the enemy, shalom was lost.
Shalom means wholeness, completeness, soundness, health, safety and prosperity, carrying with it the implication of permanence. Fame, fortune, security, and every other thing in which we root our human identity is our sin-warped search for shalom. Sin has bound us to a counterfeit of what God created us to be. That is why our peace cannot be defined by our own biased viewpoints or selfish needs. No matter how hard we try, or what price we pay, we are not in a position to obtain peace for ourselves. Only Jesus…Always Jesus…He is our peace.
Study One: Peace With God
Read:
Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—
in peace because they trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for in the Lord God
you have an everlasting rock. -Isaiah 26:3-4Surely he has borne our infirmities
and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed. -Isaiah 53:4-5 (NRSV)
DECIDE:
We are quickly approaching Crucifixion Friday and Resurrection Sunday. We celebrate these events because they are central to everything we are as Christians. Without a suffering servant, “wounded for our transgressions…crushed” and punished, the disease of sin would be without a cure. Jesus was “struck down by God,” from the human perspective, so that we might be healed of sin-sickness and have a restored relationship with God. Peace with God (shalom) was why Jesus came, suffered, and died.
If we desire peace with God, we must trust ourselves to the truth that Jesus came to die for our sins. We must trust ourselves to the truth that Jesus was raised from the dead. We must abandon all other pursuits in our hope for peace. That does not mean that we must quit our jobs, sell our house, and go about in sackcloth. What it does mean is that all pursuits of identity and peace save our trust in God are slippery slopes into despair and chaos. That is why Isaiah implores us to “trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.” He alone is our only hope!
Declare:
Jesus declared Himself the Way, the Truth, and the Life. His earnest declaration was that “No one will come to the Father, except through Me” (John 14:6). This week, there are some truth declarations that we must practice together as a family. Every day, remind one another of these truths declared by reciting them to one another.
- Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I come to the Father through You alone.
- Lord God, I trust You. You are my everlasting rock of peace and security.
- Jesus, You were bruised, beaten, and killed so I can be healed of my sin-sickness.
- Jesus, You were raised from the dead so I can live at peace with God.
- Jesus, You have forgiven and restored me, so I can love God and love others with my whole heart.
DEVOTE:
How can we know true peace (shalom)?
Why did Jesus come to earth and die on the cross?
Why do we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus?
PRAY:
Lord, God, my Creator, I want to experience and share the peace that You intend. Give me wisdom to avoid the pursuit of other things that will only give me a temporary/false peace. Help my heart and mind to be devoted to that peace that only comes through trust and intimacy with You. Give me strength to trust, even when grief, pain, fear, and confusion enter my life. Help me to stand on the rock of Your truth and find a peace that surpasses human understanding through Your love for me. In Jesus name, Amen.
Study Two: Peace With Others
READ:
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. – Ephesians 2:13-16 (NRSV)
DECIDE:
In context, Paul is addressing the most pressing division of his time, Jews and Gentiles. Theirs were two different worlds. The Jews, “the circumcision,” were chosen by God, living in a privileged relationship, entrusted with the “law and the prophets” and lived in the hope of the continued fulfillment of the promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob of a kingdom of peace. The Gentiles, “the uncircumcision,” were the outsiders, enemies of God who pursued the worship of a myriad of gods and were destined for destruction. Paul declares here that through Jesus, this division and hostility were abolished. His was a promise of peace with God and among humans that had never existed previous.
If we read further, he declares that Jesus came declaring peace to those who were far off and those who were near so that, together, they might experience access in one Spirit to the Father. Jesus became the Way, the Truth, and the Life for the whole world, not just the Jews. The promised Kingdom was not just for a chosen few, but for anyone who accepted the precious gift of love that He offered.
Paul declares in Galatians 3:28, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” This begs the question of the continued discord, even within the church, among people of differing races, genders, nationalities, etc. even in the face of Jesus declaration that people will know we are His disciples by the love we have one for another.
We have a decision, today and every day, to be agents of the love and peace that Jesus came preaching, teaching and living, or we can lose the label “Christian.”
DECLARE:
There is a tradition among many church families that is called the “passing of the peace.” When these congregations gather, an integral practice of their worship together is to take the time to say to those around them: “The peace of the Lord be with you.” The response: “And also with you.” An authority on this tradition, Paul Ryan, writes this:
The gesture is simple, but the meaning is profound. When we extend our hand to another, we identify with Jesus, who extended his life to the point of death to make peace with humanity (Col. 1:20-21). What’s more, in the midst of divisions we symbolize our unity through handshakes and hugs (Eph. 2:14-21). Likewise, when we regularly pass the peace we practice God’s call to make every effort to maintain the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3).
https://www.reformedworship.org/article/march-2011/passing-peace
The Ephesians 4 passage is a significant declaration from Paul to all of us: “I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and of all, who is above all and through all and in all” Ephesians 4:1-6 (NRSV)
The message is clear and we must declare: It is our calling to make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. I believe that applies to every man, woman, and child. As parents, we must strongly encourage our children to practice this and have integrity to practice the same.
DEVOTE:
Read the Ephesians passage again. Talk about humility, gentleness, patience, undergirded by LOVE and how that is practiced. Think about a time when you were in conflict with another believer. If you can, share how that conflict affected you personally.
PRAY:
Heavenly Father, You have loved me with an everlasting love, even when I was Your enemy. Through Jesus, I have peace and love that I cannot have any other way. Give me wisdom and courage to demonstrate that same love to my enemies, my friends, and my family. You have told us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). Help me to make that the reality of my life. I am Your child, by faith. Make the desire of my heart to be a peacemaker among those You place in my path. In Jesus name, Amen.