The Order of Peace

What brings peace? Where does it originate? Where can I find it?

‍

Over the last month or so, I've asked these questions in order to put together a curriculum that I'm currently working on. I've gathered a large number of peace related bible verses and they've accumulated like a mass of puzzle pieces (or should I say, peaces), waiting to be put in a specific spot in order to create a meaningful picture. This may not be new news, but what I found in my organization process, is that each verse fell into three different places. Soon, the order of peace was clear:

1. Peace WITH God. This is where true peace originates. It's the "vertical" relationship between God and man. We cannot experience true peace within our own hearts or peace with others without first experiencing the gift of God's peace with Him. God sent His Son to the world to take away our sin so that we can have a One-on-one relationship with Him. When that happens, peace enters and we gain...
2. Peace WITHIN. When we accept Christ as our Savior, then the Prince of Peace enters into our hearts. His Spirit settles us, transforms us, helps us, and then moves us to pursue...
3. Peace WITH others. We cannot have peace with others until we have peace WITHIN our own hearts first. We cannot give away what we do not posses. We so often do this peace-thing backwards, don't we? We try to gain peace with others first, when truly, our own hearts are restless and misguided. Could that be what is happening today? It seems that chaos is winning. We need Christ!

First things first, peace with God, a magnificent and ETERNAL gift offered at the cross--nowhere else. All your mess will be wiped away by the only One who can do it, Jesus. Next, let His peace flood and flow within. Allow the Lord to calm you, teach you, and redirect you. Then, and only then, go and give God's peace to others. Brothers and sisters, the world needs this order of peace.

‍

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. Ephesians 2:13-14