Focus on the prime benefit of peace: relationship with the Prince of Peace. On a surface level, the benefits of peace are obvious: Safety in the streets, genetic parents and their children living together in stable families with both parents present, economies producing goods that have positive effects rather than destructive ones…the list could go on.
However, we’re as obviously living in a world where disorder and oppression are at work.
Malfunctioning governments perpetuate dysfunctional societies. And the Holy Spirit works on others, or within us, sending those who respond out, with the ache in our hearts, using our hands and feet, our minds, and our words in attempts to restore our world to the place full of good and wonder we know it was created to be. The effort gets to be a constant disappointment, because our power is insufficient to make our results last. But is it solely up to us?
The Holy Spirit works on others, and through us.
Peace doesn’t appear to function when our focus is on circumstance.
Like joy, peace has several depths. Believers in Christ’s death and resurrection have the option to focus on the prime benefit of peace: relationship with the Prince of Peace. What? You forgot that was His name? I don’t always remember, either.
Aren’t we foolish? Allowing our focus to leave the Prince of Peace opens us to the influence of fear, based on circumstances. Throughout the Bible, people in relationship with God are told to be courageous, and think with a sound mind, because He will turn everything to our benefit for His glory.
His word also tells us we will live forever with the prime benefit of peace. Our relationship with the Prince of Peace will carry on unimpeded when he returns to recreate the universe and bring us where he is.
If you’ve ever been curious about Heidi’s fiction, there are links to short stories and an anthology on this page.
Ruth DeMaat
Heidi Kortman
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