
Okay, I admit that when I started thinking about this fruit of the Spirit, I expected to learn more about that “peaceful easy feeling” kind of peace. As I studied, I was a bit surprised to find something remarkably different. The kind of peace that the Spirit grows in our lives is a relational peace. The Greek word is “eirene”, and it means to be or act peaceful. Other ways of saying this is to be at peace, live in peace, or live peaceably. The word comes from a root word “eiro” which means to join. So, the peace the Spirit brings is a peace of being joined together with God and others.
Think about this with me. Isn’t that the core of most of our problems? That we are separated from God and others? Isn’t that the horrific damage sin has caused every member of the human race? That we no longer are joined together easily with God and those we love. The fruit of the Spirit is peace. What the Spirit likes to do is to join together that which sin has separated. In our flesh we are at war with God and others. We fight to stay alive and to take care of ourselves. We look out for ourselves, even at dire cost to our relationships.
Then throw in the mix that we are all looking for personal peace, that peaceful, easy feeling kind of peace I mentioned before. But we want it without having to need God to provide it. So, sin has destroyed our relationships by tearing us apart from those we want to love. And on top of this, we are all seeking peace or rest in our lives, without having to trust God to bring it.
Let me illustrate. First of all, sin has separated what God wants to join. Think about the divorce rate in our country. And it isn’t any better within the church than it is outside. Look at your kids, or your friends’ kids, or my kids. No matter how much they love each other, there is always the lack of peace, eiro peace, in their relationships. Just today, on the way home from grandmom’s house, my girls, who are the best of friends, began arguing about something unimportant. The argument escalated into yelling and screaming and even throwing a boot at the other sister. Sometimes it is hitting, pinching, pulling hair, or saying really mean words. Then the peace is gone. The smallest thing can cause separation. Even in our best relationships.
Here’s a recent example from my life. Last week I was supposed to join some friends for dinner, and at the very minute I was walking out the door, things fell apart at my house, with my tired kids. And I mean really fell apart. I was not able to go out with my girlfriends, and when I called to tell one of them about it, I accidentally took out my frustrations from my hard night on my friend. Thankfully, she is a true friend, and we have made peace, but this just shows how easily separation happens.
Now, about that personal peace we are all fighting for. What form does it take in your life? “I don’t get a moment’s rest from all of this laundry and all of the demands. Moma this. Mama that.” “I just staightened up the living room, and you kids come in with your jackets and shoes and snacks and destoy it in minutes.” “I’m trying to catch the news. Don’t bother me now.” “What is for supper?” “If only. . . . if only I had more money, more friends, more time, a bigger house, a different job, better friends. If only. . . if only he would change, if only she would do what I want her to.“ The list goes on and on, and it can be different for each of us. But the core is the same. We want peace, damnit. We want peace, and we do not believe God is doing a very good job of providing it for us.
So, how does the Spirt of Christ step into the messy places of our lives, the real places where we really live, and bring peace? The peace that joins us back to him and to others? First of all, it is by believing that Jesus has made our peace with God. It is finished. We no longer have to strive.
The corresponding word in Hebrew for peace is “shalom,” which has the connotation of wholeness and fullness, or having been made perfect. When we believe the gospel, we begin to grasp that Jesus has made us whole. We no longer have to strive to make ourselves complete or worthy of love and acceptance. This peace with God gives us peace with ourselves. It also can grow into true peace with others.
The Bible says it like this: Isaiah 32:17 The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. This righteousness is God’s, not our own. When we begin to believe that we have the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, that we have his goodness and he took our sin on himself (2 Cor. 5:21), this knowledge will bear the fruit of peace in our lives. It will join us together with God and others and bring a quietness to our hearts that speaks rest to a restless world.
And once again, this does not always feel peaceful. It can be a long, messy process. Sometimes it requires real struggle to believe and real struggle in our relationships to come to peace. But here is our hope: The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. Romans 16:20
Peace to you this Christmas season.