Why must we have peace
Peace is an attribute of God
To have peace is to be more like God because peace is an attribute of God.
(Judg 6:23-24 NIV) But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” {24} So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Peace is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit
(Gal 5:22 NIV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
How to have peace
Ask from God
We can ask God for peace because it is the Lord who grants peace.
(Num 6:23-26 NIV) “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: {24} “‘ “The LORD bless you and keep you; {25} the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; {26} the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”‘
(Lev 26:6 NIV) “‘I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country.
(Psa 4:8 NIV) I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
(Isa 26:12 NIV) LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.
Move in the will of God
A person who obeys God and moves in His will will experience peace.
(Judg 18:6 NIV) The priest answered them, “Go in peace. Your journey has the Lord’s approval.”
(2 Chr 14:5-6 NIV) He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. {6} He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the LORD gave him rest.
(Psa 119:165 NIV) Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
(Isa 32:17 NIV) The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.
(Isa 48:18 NIV) If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
(Isa 48:22 NIV) “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.”
The Bible is full of examples of people who did not experience peace because they moved against the will of God.
Jonah is one example. He ran away from the task that God wanted him to do and his life became a nightmare, one without peace. His story is told in the book of Jonah.
Ask God to answer our requests to have our problems solved
(1 Sam 1:15-17 NIV) …Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. {16} Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” {17} Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
Aspects of peace
Peace in the midst of problems
(Phil 4:6-7 NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. {7} And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Isa 26:3 NIV) You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Related topic
Peace with men
We are asked to live with peace with men.
(Psa 120:6-7 NIV) Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. {7} I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
God can cause us to have peace even with our enemies if we live according to His will.
(Prov 16:7 NIV) When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
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Is it right for a Christian to retaliate?
Should a Christian go to court?
Should a Christian enforce his rights?
Peace within the family
We should aim to have peace within our family.
(Prov 17:1 NIV) Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
The way to bring peace is not to give in to every whim and fancy of your children. If your children are not well disciplined in the Lord, they will not bring you peace.
(Prov 29:17 NIV) Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.
Peace with ourselves
(Prov 14:30 NIV) A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
This has to do with accepting ourselves and our conditions and not wasting energy on envy.
Related topic
For those who have not yet accepted Jesus as their Savior, I want to say that peace with God is the most important thing. God has provided a way for us to have peace with Him – through His Son Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
(Isa 9:6-7 NIV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. {7} Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
(Isa 53:5 NIV) But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
(Rom 5:1 NIV) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Proclaiming the message of peace
Christians are expected to be peacemakers by proclaiming the message of salvation.
(Isa 52:7 NIV) How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Rewards of pursuing peace
We will see good days
1 Peter 3:1011 (NIV) For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
We will give glory to God as His children
(Mat 5:9 NIV) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
We will raise an environment of righteousness
(James 3:17-18 NIV) But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. {18} Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.