Of the nine qualities called the Fruit of the Spirit the
first three portray a Christian’s mindset with special emphasis on his
relationship with God. They are love,
joy, and peace. Romans 5:1, tells us
that true peace of mind depends on attaining “peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ”.
I am sure those with a secular mindset would disagree when I
say that man cannot experience true peace without trusting in and obeying
God. I speak from personal
experience. I have heard many
testimonies of people trying to fill the emptiness in their spirits with many
things as they looked for true peace in their lives. They find out that material things, success,
wealth, acclaim, or even relationships do not bring a true internal peace. They reach a goal which they have envisioned
and look around and say, “is that all there is?” At some time in life each of us is faced with
the questions, “What is life all about?”
“What is the purpose of the trials which I face?” “I have to do the same thing day, after day,
after day. Is there purpose to the
monotony?” One can become very fearful
and depressed until he finds answers to these thoughts. Faith in the God who is waiting for us to
come to Him cannot be logically understood.
Faith is a gift. We are to come
with the faith of an innocent child.
Faith comes to us when we seek its reality. We experience God’s reality when we ask, “Is
what God promises in His word true? Is
God who He says He is?” God and His
answers came to me as I read specific Bible verses. His Spirit entered my spirit and I knew He
was with me. He heard me and He spoke to
my heart.
Receiving God’s gift of faith and the virtues of the Fruit
of His Spirit make our personal spirits peaceful. We experience peace when fear is replaced by
faith. A fearful person has not found
God’s internal peace, a gift of the Spirit.
The greatest gift which the believer has is the promised hope of eternal
life. God’s promise of eternal life
tells me that I will be with Him and my loved ones throughout eternity. This gives
me peace. I am not afraid to die
therefore I am not afraid to live.
Christ conquers the believer’s ultimate fear of death.
God has given us His grace, His promise of eternal life, and
His peace. As He has given, He wants us
to give. When we receive His peace, He
wants us to live in peace. Peace and
harmony come to those who extend it to others.
In the world, peace is described as the opposite of war and social unrest. Man prays for world peace. The peace which I have been describing is an
internal quality possessed by individuals who are reconciled with God. God has not given man the power to give
peace. God’s peace can only return to
the world when He returns. Our heavenly
Father is called the “God of Peace” in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. The Messiah, Christ, is called the “Prince of
Peace” in Isaiah 9:6. There is a peace
which the world can not define, understand, or achieve. Peace is something every human being longs
for to achieve in their personal lives and in the world. In John 14:27 Jesus said, “Peace I leave with
you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let
your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
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