The Bond of Peace part 5
What's inside comes out. Its only when you're at peace with yourself that you can be a peacemaker. Only when you stop trying to be someone you're not in order to get something you think you haven't got that you can be yourself. Your true self. Who you are in Christ. Which is who Christ is in you. And when you be still and know that He is God... that's when you can experience Jesus' everlasting, eternal, abundant, Resurrection Life. That's when you can stop trying to get, and start giving what you've got. That's when you can stop running FROM God and start running TO Him. And when you run TO Him, and rest in His open arms, that's when you experience His peace. Look at John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Jesus said MY peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth. Not just the absense of enemies. But the presence of love. That's the bond of peace. Love is the bond that keeps us together. The unity of the Spirit. Knowing that we're all in this together and helping each other. Not knocking someone down so you can look better by comparision, but reaching down to pick someone up when they're down. Bearing one another's burdens so they're light enough to carry. Looking on the things of others. Esteeming others higher than ourselves. That's what unity of Spirit is all about. That's the bond of peace. And that's what's available to us. That's what Jesus gave us when He gave us the Holy Spirit--the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth that leads and guides us into all truth. He gave us the love receptor. So that we might now that He always has and always will love us. And since the New Commandment is to love one another as Jesus loves us... its important to know how He loves us. Its important to know and believe His love. So that we can receive and release His love. So that we can let what's inside come out, by knowing and believing its in there. Knowing and believing HE'S in there. Knowing and believing LOVE is in there! Love means "love feast" in many Bible verses. And what's more peaceful than sharing a meal with someone? (Yes, I'm sure you've had some rambunctious Thanksgiving dinners and whatnot, but I'm convinced there is power in breaking bread with people. Communion, right?) When we sit down and eat together we strengthen that bond. That connection. That relationship. Peacemakers don't go around destroying things. The good fight of faith is laying hold of eternal life. Receiving the gift that we've been given. Receiving it and releasing it. Receiving it BY releasing it. Seeing a need and meeting it. That's how the government and peace of God knows no end... because it spreads through His people. We stop running around like chickens with our heads cut off, and we (I'll say it again) be still and know that HE is God. Know that God is love. Embrace ourselves and then embrace others. A hug can go a long way. Especially if you haven't had one in a while. It can make you feel pretty peaceful. So stop fighting against things and start living FOR things. For each other. For love. Peace on earth and goodwill towards men!