How to Be a Fruity Christian (Part 10)

As we continue our journey focusing on the fruit of the Spirit, I want to remind you how prominent God's peace should reign in a Christian's relationships.  There are three key relationships that each person is responsible for: Relationship with God, relationship with others, and relationship with yourself.    Before a human being can experience true peace, they must realize that true peace of heart, mind, body, and soul comes only from having a right relationship with God (Roman 5:1).  When God created Adam and Eve, their relationship with God was pure peace.  Yet when they chose to sin against God's perfect law, then human relationship with God became one of fear (Genesis 3:10).  Only when a person chooses Christ to be Lord and Savior of their life, will they be able to join with the Apostle Paul when he writes, "And the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:7)

The second relationship that cries out for peace is in our relationships with others.  God's children are called to be "peacemakers" (Matt. 5:9).  We are also called to take the "gospel of peace" to those who need to experience the peace of God.  Proverbs 16:7 say "When a man's ways please the Lord He makes his enemies to be at peace with him."  From God's Word we learn that when we are walking close with Christ, we are bringing God's peace into every human relationship we are in; even the difficult ones.  And last, the third relationship that longs for peace is the relationship each person has with themselves.  This may sound strange, but there are many of people we meet that may seem to have everything together, but deep inside they are at war.  Why do you think so many (Christians too) are killing themselves every day?  Col. 3:15-16 commands us to let God's peace rule our whole being.  True inward peace comes from following God's Word (Ps. 119:165), having a committed prayer life (Phil. 4:67), submitting to the Good Shepherd's leading (Ps. 23), and standing on God's unfailing promises.  True peace does not mean you and I will not have any problems in life, but in our problems and storms, hold dearly to God for refuge and strength.  Allow God's peace to be your guide, and you will have a less stressed life.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.