God's Continual Peace, Pt. 2

We don't know the way of peace until we receive Jesus. We cannot be at peace with God and live in sin. We must know God and walk with Him.

God's Continual Peace, Pt. 2

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

(John 16:33)

Don't you love the peace of God? Some of you are walking a hard road, and you need God to help you in mighty ways. As a child of God who loves Jesus and is following Him, please know that God sees you, He cares, and in His perfect time, He will deliver you. In the meantime, yes, even in this hard time when you are waiting for a breakthrough, you can have peace. God's peace is not fleeting but it is abiding and continual.

In his message on God's peace, Dr. Stanley pointed out that there is a difference between peace with God and peace in God. The first step to peace is peace with God. Isaiah 59:1-2 states:

"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened,
That it cannot save;
Nor His ear heavy,
That it cannot hear.
But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear."

Before Jesus saves us, sin separates us from God. Romans 5:9 says, "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." We are saved from the wrath of God. When we are enemies of God, we can't have peace.

Isaiah 48:22 says, "'There is no peace,' says the Lord, 'for the wicked.'" To be wicked is to reject Jesus Christ, God's only provision for forgiveness, eternal life, and peace.

Isaiah 59:8 says,

"The way of peace they have not known,
And there is no justice in their ways;
They have made themselves crooked paths;
Whoever takes that way shall not know peace."

We don't know the way of peace until we receive Jesus. I did not have peace with God or with others until I met Jesus. I lived in much fear, worry, and doubt until Jesus saved me from my sins. God grants to His children a peace that overrides frustration. The Spirit of God convicts of sin and the adequacy and sufficiency of Jesus. He leads us to a saving relationship with Jesus. Colossians 1:20 says, "And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross."

We cannot be at peace with God and live in sin. Romans 8:14-16 teaches us, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."

Once we have peace with God, then we will have peace in God. We can experience His peace continually, no matter our circumstances. Peace with God is a one-time decision when we receive Christ as Savior. The peace of God or in God is a continuing decision we make day by day; we need to choose it. Romans 5:1 is such a great verse: "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Do you have this peace? You can. First, receive Christ by faith, and then walk with Jesus by faith.

As I close today's devotion, I am praying even now that everyone who reads this will experience the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.