As we look around the world today, men and women are constantly searching for peace. Yet peace continues to elude them, even though they seek it diligently. There is social unrest. There is political unrest, regardless of which party is in office. There are wars around the world, and there is a constant fear of diseases that plague our society. Has peace become something from a bygone era?

It helps to define what we mean when we speak of peace. Most people would define peace as the absence of unrest, turmoil, and trouble. However, peace is much more than that. The peace referred to in our verse speaks of an inner calm toward God and others. It is the tranquility of mind that comes from a right relationship with God. Peace, when used as a verb, carries the idea of binding together and conveys the thought of everything being in its proper place, regardless of outward circumstances.

The prophet Isaiah writes about this:

“Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go. Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea’” (Isa. 48:17–18).

Isaiah goes on to say, “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.” This gives us a clue as to why peace eludes so many people.

Ever since sin entered the world through the disobedience of one man, Adam, the peace and fellowship that mankind enjoyed with God were lost. This is why peace continues to elude humanity.

There are three aspects of this peace. First, there is peace with God, which comes through accepting the finished work of Christ on the cross:

“It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 4:24–5:2).

Once we have peace with God, we can then enjoy the peace of God and fellowship with the God of peace, as described in Philippians 4:6–9.

Anchor For Today:
Oh! the peace for ever flowing From God’s thoughts of His own Son,
Oh, the peace of simply knowing, On the cross that all was done.
Peace with God, for Christ in heaven Object is of faith to me:
Peace with God! the Lord is risen! Righteousness now counts me free.
– Lord Adalbert Percy Cecil