Recipe for Peace
By: Vivian Gordon
There really is a foolproof recipe for true inner peace. It really
is simple if you are one who is determined to use it the way
it is directed. It doesn’t cost money, you don’t have to have
an insurance plan in order to get it. On the contrary, if you
persue this foolproof plan for peace, you will attain the
ulitimate insurance plan for life.
God who is the Creator of everything, has this plan laid out
for all who are willing to receive it. He guarantees it’s
success in bringing peace into your life. But, there are some
requirements that are expected of you in order to activate it.
God is not a God that makes our lives more complicated.
We are the only ones who are to blame for that. God has
lined out a very simple peace plan, in fact it’s so simple, you
could say it’s as simple as your A,B,C’s!
Face it, if you don’t have peace within your soul, you are
living a life of torment. The odds of that happening are
practically 10 to 1. I would say that if you have no trials in
your life, you aren’t living. You would be an exception if your
life was just cruising at a constant pace. But, God knows
this is not the norm for His children and so for all those who
want His perfect peace, He laid down this perfect recipe.
God loves us with an undying love, and He wants us to have
His peace in order to serve Him better while we are still
aliens in this world. So, here it is, very simple, very basic
and is guaranteed to work for all who use it the way He
intended.
A is for ABIDE
Abide means to live, dwell in something. It’s home and
home is where the heart is. Jesus said, “IF…you keep My
commandments (if you continue to obey My instructions),
you WILL abide in My love and live on it, just as I have
obeyed My Father’s commandments and live on His love.”
(Jn.15:10). Jesus represents love and peace, and He
instructs us to abide in Him in order that we can obtain
these things from Him. The apostle John says, “But as for
you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction)
which you received from Him ABIDES (permanently) in you;
(so) then you have no need that anyone should instruct you.
But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything
and is true and is no falsehood, so you must ABIDE in (live
in, never depart from) Him, (being rooted in Him, knit to
Him), just as (His anointing) has taught you to do.”(1
Jn.2:27). John even goes on to say that to ABIDE in Him is to
live by truth. Living by truth brings peace, there is no more
condemnation. John also writes (vs.28) that to ABIDE in
Him is to have and enjoy perfect confidence (boldness,
assurance) and we will not shrink and be ashamed from
Him at His coming. Again he tells us in (1 Jn. 3:6) that
anyone who ABIDES in Him can NOT deliberately,
knowingly, or habitually commit sin. Sin is what keeps us
from knowing the perfect peace that God has for us in the
first place. So when you ABIDE in Christ, you will be at
peace from sin! This is to have the nature of God, which is
perfect peace. Simple so far?
B is for BELIEVE
Once we can abide, we will also have the belief in Christ.
This to credit or to expect with confidence. After all,
BELIEVING is the main theme behind God’s Word. Many
miracles were performed for those who believed. Jesus
Himself said, “All things are possible to him who
BELIEVES.” (Mk. 9:23) Jesus said “ALL” things, not just a
few things would be possible. ALL encompasses just
that…EVERYTHING that there is. What does it leave out?
Nothing! Again God made this promise, “that to as many as
received and welcomed Him, He gave aurthority (power,
privilege, right) to become children of God, that is, to those
who BELIEVE in (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on) His
name.” (Jn. 1:12). I don’t know about you, but this brings a
great peace to my soul just knowing that I am a child of
God’s, the God of Peace! If this hasn’t gotten your attention
yet, then how about this. By believing in His name, you will
never perish, but will have everlasting life! God says we will
live forever with Him in His kingdom, (Jn. 3:15). This is truly
a main ingredient for peace, to know that we will never die,
that our lives will live on in another realm with God Almighty.
The Bible is full of these promises from God to those who
are willing to BELIEVE in His Son for attaining eternal peace
and everlasging life.
C is for CHRIST
This is the last ingredient. Actually the first and the last. He
is the Alpha and Omega. He is the Rock, the Savior, The
Comforter and Friend. These names alone should bring you
great peace. Christ alone is the reason we can ABIDE and
BELIEVE in the first place. He is the reason for our salvation,
which spells out peace to perfection. Christ in His own
words tells us that even the person who offers us a cup to
drink because we bear the name and belong to Him will be
rewarded. (Mk. 9:41) Here’s the best assurance of all. Paul
said “Therefore, (there is) now no condemnation (no
judging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus,
who live (and) walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but
after the dictates of the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:1). Just knowing that
Christ will not bring us condemnation of judgement. This
should be adding a great peace to you right now. Christ is
the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24) We
are Christ’s just as Christ is God’s (1 Cor.3:23). In fact, the
Bible says that we are INgrafted in Christ (which is receiving
from Him) and we are now “new creatures” altogether. (2
Cor. 5:17) This is a fresh and new way which has come.
The things that hold us back from peace is hanging onto
our old things; such as contempt, sin, pride, stubborness
of unforgiveness. All the things that won’t leave us alone to
ABIDE and BELIEVE in CHRIST. But when we can do these
things, He washes us clean as snow. You have to admit
that there is something magical and pure about a first
snowfall. We describe it as pristine, pure and clean. We
reflect that pristine innocence and beauty when Christ is
done cleaning up our act.
To sum this all up is as Paul stated; “May Christ through
your faith (actually) dwell (settle down, abide, make His
home permanent) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in
love and founded securely on love.” (Eph. 3:17)
When we ABIDE, BELIEVE in CHRIST, making Him our
permanent residency, (remember; home is where the heart
is) we will be rooted and sercurely grounded in His Peace!
Perfect love, truth, peace is having freedom from sin and
death. It’s having God’s power and wisdom which spells
relief for PEACE.
Now we know our A,B,C’s!!!
Christ invites all to come to Him for eternal life and peace in
this life. If you don’t know Him today, ask Him to come into
your heart and confess your sins to Him. He loves you so
much that He died for them. When you exchange those sins
for His peace, you will know that He is worthy to be praised.
He will be your everlasting JOY, PEACE, COMFORT,
TRUTH, and LOVE in a world where sin is running rampant.
He is all you need. Just ask, listen and receive, it’s there for
the taking!
In order to know PEACE, you must first know God.
Vivian Gordon writes inspirational and spiritual articles
in which to help strengthen the Believer’s walk in Christ.
They are often taken from today’s point of view and
used in conjunction with what God says about certain
situations and how we are to handle them. There is
always an answer for every problem. These articles are
not all about asking God “why?” but in finding the
answers.