NOTHING LIKE PEACE WITH GOD

FRIDAY 09 SEPTEMBER 2022

Those who truly fear God, have one thing in common, and that is peace with God. Every true Christian has been justified by faith in Christ, which means that he is made righteous before God, thereby walking in newness of life, which is the only real evidence of having peace with God.

Reference: Romans 5:1 New King James Version (NKJV) "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

This is the greatest testimony you can have in this world - Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Having peace with God involves being justified by faith through only one person: Our Lord Jesus Christ! Ephesians 1:7 says, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" (NIV). Simply put, anyone who doesn't have redemption, the forgiveness of sin, through the blood of Jesus, is at enmity with God. And it is so gracious to know that, in and through the moment of Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross, the great hope of man's reconciliation with God was established. Were it not for Christ's death, even the contemplation of experiencing eternal peace with God would be in vain, and nothing else would've produced a saving effect on the human heart.

What to know about having peace with God:

(1) Peace with God comes with the guarantee of fulfilling His promises in our lives (2 Peter 1: 3-4).

(2) It has the assurance that nothing can deprive you of, or separate you from the love of God or Christ Himself because once the barrier of sinful nature is removed, you become one with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17 NLT; Ephesians 2:12-18 NIV).

(3) It has the assurance that when obtained, it shall meet all the expectations of the soul, according to God's will and the peace shall be perfect and eternal (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV).

When you study some worldly facts, you'll realise and understand that the whole world talks about peace although it's not really so. This is because we are living in a time that everything surrounding us will always impel us to carefully think of the importance of peace. However, the truth is that nobody can know and have true peace except they have received Christ as Lord. No wonder Jesus said in John 14:27 (NLT): "I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." Why did Jesus particularly say, "Don't be troubled or afraid"? This is because in the world of chaos, uncertainty and instability, the things you think more about or experience will remain in your heart and saturate your mind." So He says, "Don't be troubled because I've got superior peace to offer."

Jesus also stated in John 16:33 saying, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world" (ESV). Beloved, Jesus is the only place you can have and experience true and lasting peace. Ephesians 2:14-16 reads, "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility" (NIV).

Into the bargain, Colossians 3:15 reads, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful" (NLT). If you want to experience and sustain this peace, which is beyond human understanding, first of all, you have to give your life to Christ by declaring the guided prayer below. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 8:6; Colossians 1:19-22; Romans 8:31-39.

Guided prayer: I acknowledge today that God demonstrated His unconditional love for me in this: While living without Christ, He sent Him ahead of time to die for me. Therefore I renounce the nature of sin and I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I believe and confess with all my heart that Jesus is the Son of the true living God, who died for me and was raised from the dead on the third day by God. I believe that Jesus is risen and He's alive forever. I accept Him into my heart and I declare His Lordship over my life. I'm now born again as a new creation. I have eternal life: my present-moment reality. Thank you Lord Jesus for saving me and taking full charge of my life, as my Lord. GLORY TO GOD!