Dimensions of Peace

One of the many blessings of Scripture is its offer of peace which has various dimensions. Our readings today touched on several of those dimensions. Consider the following: 1. Peace with God - the first kind of peace we need is peace with our Creator. Our sin has separated us from our God and put us at emnity with Him. To bring us back or to enact reconciliation requires the removal of our sins. That required the death of the spotless lamb of God who gave His all - His life as the ultimate sacrifice. When we identify with that death through faith, our sins are cancelled and our relationship with God restored. We again can enjoy peace with God. The book of Leviticus points to this reality through its veiled signs: the unblemished animal, laying of one's hands on the sacrifice, the offering of the complete sacrifice... Each of these signs points to the peace that was brought to us through the death of Christ. 2. Peace with others - just as we need peace with God we need peace with our brothers and sisters as well. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, the result was not just a broken relationship with God, but also a broken relationship between all mankind. We tend not to love one another, to be self seeking and that leads to all kinds of strife. The answer to this is the same as above. The blood of Christ not only restores peace with God but also procures for us the power to restore peace with others in our world. The book of Proverbs, from the perspective of the fear of God - giving God His rightful place in our life, offers very practical counsel that we can apply through the power of Christ within us. Behaviors like covering an offense (17:9), quickly ending quarrels (17:14), restraining one's words and being cool in spirit (17:27) all contribute in very practical ways to the peace with others that was won by Christ's cross. 3. Peace within ourselves - this final dimension of peace is essential for all. There is so much in our world that can potentially unsettle us. Imagine how unsettling were the events the disciples experienced when they saw the Lord taken, crucified and placed in a tomb. Imagine how unsettling it was when they arrived to the tomb only to find the Lord's body removed. Imagine how unsettling then to see the Lord in His resurrected body and to wonder what was going on. The Lord's offer of peace many times during his resurrection appearances I'm sure was needful for His disciples. Paul also spoke of peace in Philippians. The classic verses found in 4:6-7 have assisted believers throughout the ages. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Later in that same chapter Paul urges the believers to be careful what they think on and how they live, and then assures them that "the God of peace will be with you". It is a joy to know that the Lord who secured our peace with God and with others through the blood of the cross, is the same Lord who can take us through this world of trials and turmoils and give to us in its midst a peace that surpasses understanding. Do you know these wondrous dimensions of peace? I trust the peace of Christ will be with you today and always in fullest measure!