We'll never make peace with ourselves

C.S. Lewis reminds us, "God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing." I think we look a whole lot of places for happiness - from within relationships to the things we purchase. We look for peace but find circumstances and attitudes that don't really support it. How are we to find peace if it is so elusive? Romans 8:5-7 tells us, "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will." Perhaps the only way we find true and lasting peace is to allow peace to actually enter into each of us by saying 'yes' to Jesus!

The sinful nature wants to dominate us - to invade our thoughts, form our attitudes, and influence our actions. Allowing our sinful nature to be at the helm in our lives will surely never produce peace - it is at war with God! No wonder Jesus promised us the gift of his Spirit residing within, for we need his direction to defeat negative and damaging thought. Until our thought life is dealt with, all the work we do to 'create peace' in our lives, let alone seek happiness, will be worthless. I don't know about you, but I don't like seeking worthless things. I once heard someone say we had to make peace with ourselves before we could find peace in this world. I would challenge that thought and say until we make peace with God, allowing him to replace our sinful nature with his new nature, we won't really ever know true and lasting peace.

Thomas Merten tells us, "We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God." All the efforts of mankind to 'find' peace in a set of circumstances, believing if we 'fashion things just right', we will be at peace with each other is kind of 'pie in the sky' thinking. We are never going to find peace with each other until we find peace with God - period. What is one of the biggest things that keeps us from finding peace with God? It is likely our pride. We don't believe we have the need for him in our lives - it is as though we see him as a 'crutch' some need to lean upon, but not us. I have had several knee injuries in my lifetime, resorting to the use of crutches to allow healing to occur. I will tell you this - were it not for the 'crutch' supporting the weight of my body, my leg would never have healed!

Sometimes we need to admit we don't know what we don't know. Those who think they have no need for God in their lives are really deceived - either by themselves or by the thoughts of others. All of mankind was made with a 'hollow space' where God's Spirit should dwell. To lean into our own pride and say we have no need for God to fill that space because we can 'fill it' some other way is foolishness. Remember, the fool is the one saying he has no need for God. (Psalm 14:1) If you have ever had one of those toolboxes that have all the cut-out shapes for each of the tools, you know you cannot put a hammer into the slot for the socket wrench - it doesn't fit. So, why would we ever try to put something else into the 'space' in our lives that was made specifically for God's presence? Just askin...

A new standard

 But the wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest. People who work for peace in a peaceful way plant a good crop of right-living. (James 3:17-18)

What 'crop' are you planting today? Are you planting actions that reveal a heart 'working for peace'? In today's world, we can see all manner of tensions and upsets. We need godly individuals who will rise up, live peaceable lives, being godly examples that reveal how God's presence in our lives helps us live in peace and with peace. We cannot live 'in' peace with each other until we are 'at peace' with God. 

God's presence in our lives brings a new standard for living, but it is far from just living a 'religious life'. As we begin to be affected by the peace of God within, we begin to operate in the realm of his wisdom and purpose. That 'change in operating standards' is what some might call 'religion', but it is really a change of leadership in our lives. That change of leadership brings with it an influx of the wisdom of God that affects us in many ways.

His wisdom is pure - bringing a change in our inner man that moves from leaning toward crass and harsh interactions with each other to considerate and kind actions. Where there is a purity in thoughts, actions are bound to change for the best. Peaceful and gentle actions are an outflow of a changed heart. Mind, will, and emotions all being affected deeply by his grace-filled presence within.

When the 'within' is right, the 'without' is better! The actions we reveal toward others are going to exemplify the grace of God that has affected us on the inside. The more we allow his wisdom to point out areas where there is any impurity, a lack of his peace, or any harshness in our character, the more we will begin to live 'at peace' with others. Why? His peace becomes our new standard for living - with ourselves and with others. Just sayin!

In and At Peace

It was Eisenhower who said, "We are going to have peace even if we have to fight for it." How ironic is it that we pursue peace, yet find it amid the battle? Some believe peace comes in the absence of 'warfare' or 'turmoil', but let's challenge that belief a little today. God's peace is available at all times - peace with mankind may take a bit of work on all our parts. Inner peace is amazing but living at peace with one another is pretty doggone awesome, too! How does this type of peace come about? By listening to God!

I will listen to God the Lord. He has ordered peace for those who worship him. Love and truth belong to God’s people; goodness and peace will be theirs. (Psalm 85:8-10)

How do we listen? Isn't listening done with more than our ears? Some may not think so, but we listen with our eyes, hearts, and minds. We see and we respond. We 'feel' and we reach out. We think upon and we act. Listening requires we 'hear' employ a great deal of our spiritual senses, as well as our natural senses. Is part of listening actually responding? At times, this is true. We hear a call, and we respond with a corresponding action. God's ask of us is to be obedient to whatever he asks - responding with the corresponding action he leads us to take.

Realizing peace comes at a cost is really what Eisenhower was saying - it takes a fight on the battlefield to get to the place where peace can exist. The cost may be high - so in the pursuit of peace we might just want to be paying attention to what our 'Commander-in-Chief' says! We don't want to just foolishly linger where we can realize unnecessary loss, nor do we want to be out on our own where we can be a sitting duck for our enemies. We want to be 'in God's presence' - through worship, time in the Word, and in fellowship with other believers. 

Peace isn't optional for God's kids. He "orders" peace for those who worship him. How is peace 'felt'? Love, truth, goodness - these are hallmarks of real peace. Where love abounds, wars cease. Where truth prevails, all deception will fall away. Where goodness is the norm, foolishness falls by the wayside. We need God's wisdom to live 'in peace' and 'at peace' with one another. We live 'in peace' because we have his presence within. We live 'at peace' because we pursue his direction for our lives. Just sayin!