The Bond of Peace part 1
I've heard this idea a lot lately, "We dislike the same things (or people), so we get along well." Basically, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. And I can see how that would be a thing. But the thing that it seems to be... is "misery loves company." Because even when we're commiserating with someone--weeping when they weep--it takes a lot of energy to dislike things that much. And I'm not saying you should like everything. I certainly don't like everything. I don't like eating anything green, for example. I don't like talking at length. It wears me out. My point, though, is that there is a more excellent way. Look at Ephesians 4:3, "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." And there's quite a bit there, so that's where I'm going to be for the next few days. But Iwant to start with that bond. Of peace. "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9). Right? "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14). Peace is a more excellent way than attacking. A more excellent bond. And look at what "peace" means in our verse in Ephesians. It is number 1515 in Strong's Greek Concordance, "to join; by implication prosperity: - one, peace, quietness, rest." Rest, eh? So Jesus went to the cross and fought (and won) the war to end all wars? And now, because He has finished the work and given us His peace, we can rest? Yup. Look at 1 Kings 5:4, "But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent." That was Solomon speaking about the state of the kingdom his father, David, left him. Daddy did all the work, and we get to enjoy the fruit of His labor. The fruit of the Spirit. Love. Its all about love. And if you've been in religion for any amount of time, you may have noticed that people will ask you what you believe in. But if you're in religion, chances are you can only come up with things that you DON'T believe in. Things that you're AGAINST, instead of things that you're FOR. And that's no way to live. Always fighting battles. Making mountains out of molehills. Being on a sin hunt. You might think its righteous spiritual warfare. But I'll say it again: Jesus fought (and won) the war to end all wars. Which means there are no wars left for us to fight. No adversaries nor evil occurrent. We are overcomers because Jesus overcame. Not because we need to overcome. The fight mentioned in the New Testament is the good fight of faith. Which is laying hold of eternal life. Receiving (and releasing) the gift that we've been given. Receiving it BY releasing it. That's the "endeavour" part of our key verse. But we'll get to that. Today is about the bond. Which is literally what peace means. To join. Joining together in prosperity. Living out of our abundance. Me giving you what you need--what I've got--and you giving me what I need--what you've got. Sharing is caring right? Love is giving. We lay hold of eternal life by sharing it. By giving it away. That's how we make peace. Not by attacking things, but by loving things. Not by being against things (or people) but by being for things (and people). Misery may love company, but there is nothing more attractive than rest in a peaceful, quiet environment!