TUESDAY January 28, 2025
Do You Have the Peace of God?
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon 3
As with all his letters, Paul gave a standard greeting to his friends–– Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Did you know that grace and peace are twin words used together in the New Testament? Grace is the unmerited favor of God that is given to us through Jesus Christ as we humble ourselves, repent of our sins, and receive Him for our salvation. It is through the grace of God that we find the peace of God. You cannot have peace before grace.
As Christians, we embrace God’s forgiveness. When we lay our heads on our pillows, we sleep like babies. God’s forgiveness in our lives causes us to be loving, kind, and forgiving to others. We reflect Jesus’ love to others. We are not only at peace with God, but we aim to be at peace with others. I find it to be so tragic when people come to church and sit in the congregation to hear a sermon, but they do not change. They go home the same way they came. They have failed to allow the Holy Spirit to minister to them––to bring true conviction and bring about a true change of heart.
This is why there are so many people today who do not have the peace of God. They cannot sleep because their consciences eat away at them in the night. They either have to humble themselves and ask God for His forgiveness to receive His salvation or forgive a person they are holding a grudge against. Do not allow bitterness or hatred in your heart; it robs you of God’s peace. How can you enjoy God’s peace that passes understanding in your life? You cannot.
Do you desire the peace of God? You can experience His peace as you seek reconciliation, not only with God, but with others. Look to the example of Philemon, who forgave his servant and embraced him as a brother in Christ.
Once we are reconciled to God, the estrangement is over, the hostilities have ended, and the peace is sealed for eternity.
~R.C. Sproul~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
