Having Peace

by Jeff Curtis

The peace offering that we read of in the Old Testament reminds Christians of the need for peace today. We live in a world that is constantly at war. Our world is upside down now with the Corvid-19 pandemic. So, with all this going on in our lives, how can we find peace?

We want peace with God. When we sin, we separate ourselves from God and become His enemies (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 5:10); but God wants to be reconciled with us. The message of the new covenant is “Be reconciled to God” (2Corinthians 5:18-21). Reconciliation was made possible by the grace of God, who gave His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross to remove our sins – or to be a propitiation for our sins (Romans 3:23-25; 1John2:2). Because of His death, we, who were once enemies of God, can become His friends (Ephesians 2:12-14). We can be at peace with Him (Romans 5:1).

We want peace within. The cases of the world drag us down. Depression and discouragement weigh heavily upon our souls. However, because we are peace with God, we can have peace within. Knowing that we have been forgiven of our sins and that we are on the way to heaven gives us “peace… which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7; NKJV). We believe that when Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you” (John 14:27), He was talking to us as well as to be His Apostles. The peace we receive from Jesus doesn’t consist of life lived without problems; rather, it is life lived with help to overcome our problems. It is not the same kind of peace worldly people enjoy; because our Lord said, “My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give you” (John 14:27). Even though we may have tribulation, in Christ we can have peace (John 16:33). The peace that Christ gives is the truest peace, the best peace, anyone can enjoy in this world.

We want peace with others. Too many of us have problems with other people. Because we are at peace with God, we can also live in peace with others. Problems may arise because we live among worldly people, but we are to do our best always to live in peace with our neighbors (Romans 12:18). Also, if we live as we should, if we do unto others as we would have them do to us, it is unlikely that we will have much conflict with our neighbors. It is in the church that we enjoy real peace with others. Bound to others by our common love for God and our common salvation in Christ, we can love and be loved; we can comfort others and be comforted. Brotherly love produces peace in our relationships with other human beings.

For the Christian, the prospects for peace are good! We are at peace with God; we can experience peace within; and we can live in peace with others. What should we do in response to the great blessing of peace? (1) We should make sure that we ourselves are enjoying the peace that is available to us. (2) We must take the message of peace – of reconciliation with God – to others.

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Suffering

Richie Thetford

    Job 5:7 tells us: “Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.” Yes, suffering is the burden of humanity.

    Perhaps, your heart is aching today, and you say, “What can I do with this burden?” Often God allows us to have burdens to exercise our faith. People who run from problems, for example, those who try to fill the valleys in their lives with drugs or alcohol, are really missing a blessing.

     God works to make us more valuable through difficulties and hardships. A bar of iron may be worth $5.00. Make it into horseshoes, and it will be worth $10.00. Make it into needles, and it might be worth hundreds of dollars. Make it into balance wheels for watches and its value might run to tens of thousands of dollars.       

To be worth more, it has to be refined, superheated, drawn out, and purified.

    Our faith is like that; it grows under pressure (disappointments, trials, difficulties) far more than when things are comfortable. Paul underlined this in Romans chapter 5 where he tells us to rejoice in our sufferings because they are good for us. They teach us patience, and patience develops strength of character and helps us to trust God more each time we exercise it until, finally, our faith and hope are strong and steady.

    Accordingly, we’re able to hold our heads high no matter what happens. We know all is well because God loves us. Therefore, strengthen your faith, bear your burden gracefully; trust in God, and He will see you through to the end.

"Generous "Innocent" Error"

Robert F. Turner

I once preached for a young congregation in Indianapolis, that met in a building purchased from the Christian Church. As the 1940 Easter season approached, a wealthy Christian church lady who visited with us occasionally made a very generous offer.

"I would like to move the electric organ from my house, at my expense, to your church," she said; and I will leave it there, and donate my service as organist, until this young church is able to obtain a suitable instrument of its own."

The kind lady was perfectly sincere, and innocent of ulterior motive. This made it difficult for me to explain to her --- without hurting her feelings --- that we did not want her organ, or one we might purchase; that there was no N. T. authority for the use of such in the worship.

And 25 years later this spirit of "innocent error is found among nominal members of the Lord's church. One wishes to install a kitchen in the church building, at her own expense, to facilitate church parties and social fellowship. Another will give a farm, or great sums of money, to establish some church-related society, or build a "church camp. Often -- perhaps most of the time -- these generous people mean well. They simply lack a proper understanding of the Lord's church and its work. We could call them "ignorant and "liberal --and perhaps accurately describe their state (as was true of the Indiana organist). We may thus warn others of the error, and whip the party into line, but it is doubtful that this will help those "zeal-without-knowledge would-be donors.” Nor is this an indictment of plain speech. In fact, it would tax the wisdom of Solomon to reject some offers, explain the scriptural reason for the rejection, and make everyone like it. Sometimes greed enters the picture.

Sometimes those who know better lack the principle and character to say "No!" And there are some so sensitive to the feelings of others they had rather ignore the word of God than to cause trouble in the church. (???)

Liberal and "Middle-of-the-road churches today are filled with a host of good people, innocent in error." They accept without question your sermons of generalities --- about the Authority of Christ, Congregational Independence, "Bible Things in Bible Ways” etc. (they love slogans, and "Church of Christ” terminology falls like gentle rain upon their upturned, smiling faces.) But make specific application of Bible principles to current practices in the church, and the smile is erased, and they are "hurt."'

The cold facts are that many nominal members of the church are untaught concerning some of the most basic characteristics of the N. T. church. Further, their "innocence" is fallacious--it does not justify their error. They refuse opportunity to study issues in the light of God's word, or to believe in the completeness of the divine pattern. They lack nobleness (Acts 17,11) and in a real sense are willingly ignorant." (2Pet. 3:5) Neither their zeal nor their generosity alone will save them. What is to be our attitude toward these people? Certainly not hate, nor vindictiveness. We do not wish to hurt -- in fact we are hurt to learn that our brethren react so violently to suggestions that we study God's word together. Our "heart's desire and prayer, to God is that they may be saved.” (Rom. 10:1-3) We do not believe we are perfect, nor set ourselves as the rule for judging others; but the TRUTH must be taught, and we must remain free to teach and practice what we believe to be the truth. And God shall judge us all. (Rom.l4: l2).