A Virtuous Lifeნიმუში

Peace

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

When most people think of peace, they tend to think about periods of history, or times in their lives, where, at the minimum, bad things weren’t happening and, hopefully, good things were happening.

And while that is a good way to understand peace, it’s just a piece of the picture when it comes to the virtue of peace that is produced in us when we remain in Jesus and His Spirit works in us. The peace that the Holy Spirit allows us to experience is a peace that transcends our struggles and is unshaken by our circumstances.

In Hebrew, the language of the Jewish people and the Old Testament, the word used for peace is shalom.

What is shalom? Shalom is the joining together of God, humanity, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and goodness. It’s not just when bad things aren’t happening. Shalom is what we call it when God’s way of doing things, the right way of doing things, is happening here on earth, just like it is in heaven. Shalom is the way things ought to be. It’s the way we all—whether we realize it or not—long for things to be. And it’s what Jesus came to bring. Here’s what John tells us …

That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace [shalom] be with you,” he said. John 20:19 NLT

After being murdered on a Roman cross, which was basically the worst thing that could have happened to Him, Jesus appeared to His disciples, who were huddled away in a locked room, afraid that they were going to be taken out next. He said to them, “Shalom be with you.” Peace, and so much more. And because they probably couldn’t believe their own eyes and ears, Jesus showed them His nail-scarred hands …

As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace [shalom] be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:20-22 NLT

Jesus came to bring shalom. Goodness, justice, and fulfillment. Peace with God, others, and ourselves. Through our sin, shalom was ravaged. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, it is being restored. Our world was broken, but Jesus came to put it back together. Starting with us. Paul tells us:

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.Romans 5:1-2 NLT

Peace with God, shalom, is available to us through the power of the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. The peace He offers is so much more than just the absence of problems. This peace brings with it the promise of eternal life with God, a purpose that nothing in this world can take away, and a hope that, no matter how difficult the present may be, God is directing our future.

So, what does it look like for us to partner with the Holy Spirit to cultivate the virtue of peace in our lives? The Apostle Paul lays it out for us in Philippians 4. Here’s what he writes:

… Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Philippians 4:5 NLT

The first step in developing the virtue of peace is to remember that Jesus is coming back. We look back on what He has said so we can look forward to what He will do. Because there will come a day when He returns to finish what He started. To right every wrong, to undo every injustice, and to establish perfect peace—true shalom—in the new creation.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

The second step in developing the virtue of peace is to pray about everything we’re tempted to worry about. Worrying doesn’t make anything better. Worrying robs us of the peace we could have today for problems we might have in the future. That doesn’t mean those problems aren’t real and that we should just pretend they don’t exist. That’s called being foolish. Instead, we wisely prepare for what might come by praying to the One who works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. We talk to God to build our trust in Him so we can face down our trials with peace in our hearts and minds.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 NLT

The third step in developing the virtue of peace is to fix our thoughts on the good instead of focusing on the bad. We give our attention to the wonderful ways God is working in the world. We train our minds to notice what is true, and honorable, and right. We think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. When we see something that is excellent and worthy of praise, we let our minds dwell on that thing. Instead of letting our thoughts run wild, we take them captive and make them obedient to Jesus by intentionally fixing our thoughts on the good, the true, and the beautiful.

When we do this, the God of peace will be with us. The Holy Spirit will do in us what we cannot do for ourselves, as He shows us how to find peace and shapes us into people who bring peace.