Peace That Passes All Understanding

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

If there is anything we need to learn about, it is peace.  It is the one thing that everyone in the world longs for, but very few have.  When I looked up the definition of peace in the dictionary, there were three major aspects to the word.  Interestingly enough, there are three types of peace found in the New Testament church epistles.

1. Peace With God.  freedom from war; freedom from private quarrels
   In Romans 5:1, the Bible tells us that we have peace with God because we are justified by faith.  That peace is obtained through Jesus Christ.  He is our peace offering (Ephesians 2:14) and our peace treaty (Colossians 1:20) given to us by God.
2. Peace From God.  freedom from agitation or disturbance by the passions such as fear, terror, anxiety, or anger 
   In Romans 1:7, we find a phrase that is found in the greeting of almost every epistle – “grace to you, and peace from God…”  Grace always comes first.  Without grace, there can be no peace.  God made peace with us once and for all when He gave us salvation.  Now, every day, and multiple times a day, He continues to give us peace for each circumstance of our lives.  Accept the peace that comes from Him.
3. Peace Of God.  heavenly rest; the happiness of heaven; a state of quiet and tranquility 
   Here in our text and also in Colossians 3:15, we see that the peace of God can control our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  God has provided it for us, but we must allow it to be in power over us.  A quiet life, a peaceful life, and a tranquil life is what God has planned for us.  We must accept it.  His way is better.  The life that He wants us to live is much more beneficial to us than the alternative.

For the purpose of this devotion, I have focused your attention on three prepositions – with, from, and of.  These words connect you as the receiver of peace with God, the Giver of peace.  Many times He is referred to as the God of peace.  All peace originates with Him.  I hope you are blessed with these three aspects of the peace He gives us. 

picture credit: Debbie Grose