Radical Peace
By the Blood of the Cross
"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on the earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross" (Colossians 1:19-20).
Without the indwelling Spirit of God, the world cannot comprehend the peace of God that comes only through the blood of Jesus on the cross. To the outside, this "peace" seems foolish, and even violent. This peace, to the world, is radical.
But to those of us who abide within the love of God, we view the blood of the cross as the ultimate loving sacrifice that paves the way for sinners like us to be in reconciled relationship with the one, true and living God. We cannot have true peace in our hearts and minds without first experiencing the peace of God at a soul level.
When Paul lists out the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5: 22-23, the radical fruit of peace follows first the fruit of love, and then the fruit of joy. We cannot have whole body and soul peace without first experiencing the joy that comes from knowing the abiding love of God through Jesus.
Throughout the month of April, we will be exploring what Scripture says leads us into this peace of God, and how God's peace differs from the world's version of peace.
