Jesus The Giver Of Peace

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you”

John 14: 27

“Lord make me an instrument of thy peace. That where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury pardon”.

                                                                                            St. Francis of Assissi

We need peace at home, in our society and even between nations.  True faith cannot be given by anyone at any place. Only Jesus can give true peace. But what should we learn about peace? Peace is imparted to us by Jesus in four ways: upward peace, inward peace, outward peace and onward peace.

I-UPWARD PEACE- Upward peace is PEACE WITH GOD.  Therefore, having been  justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans  5:1). To have “peace with God”. Meaning, to live in accordance with God’s will.  First and foremost in order to have peace is to have a good relationship with God. Matthew Henry said that “what peace can they have who are not at peace with God?” When they continue to commit sin? Don’t ask peace if you are not at peace with God.  It is peace with God that is a perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).

II- INWARD PEACE-  is PEACE WITHIN ourselves.  We cannot attain peace from sleeping pills, alcohol, drugs, smoking and other vices.  Problems should be solved by bad habits. Facing the problems and asking for God and someone’s help is the right solution.

III- OUTWARD PEACE– is PEACE WITH OTHERS. If we follow upward and inward peace, peace can be imparted to others outwardly.  St. Francis of  Assissi’s prayer says “Lord make me an instrument of thy peace. That where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury pardon”. Matthew 5:9 also tells that “blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God.”

IV- ONWARD PEACE – is EVERLASTING PEACE.  Serenity,  security, stamina, and steadfastness are gifts of peace God imparts to us.  Serenity or silence is not freedom from storm but peace amid the storm. Problems, stress and tensions is putting all things in our own hands, but peace is putting it all in God’s hand.  Stamina means “we don’t ask God to make our life easier but asking God to give us strength to face all trouble.  The mark of a true Christian is steadfastness in times of trouble. According to Marcus Aurelius “be like a cliff against which the waves continuously  break but stands firms and tames the fury of water around it.

(From the Messages of Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon on Sunday Worship)