Called to Walk in Peace

The final aspect of being a child of God that was dropped into my spirit was this concept of walking in peace.  It is something which didn’t seem to particularly leap out at me, something I didn’t feel was entirely relevant.  But still, God spoke it to me, so I had to look into it.

Initially, I posed to myself what the word peace meant.  The simplest definition that seemed to wrap up what my understanding of the word was this.

Peace – the absence of conflict or anxiety.

Colossians 3:15 NLT – And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

From that perspective, this is a nice verse.  But as I looked deeper, I discovered that the way our culture has interpreted that word has lost most of its meaning.  We make peace to be this nice, soft word and we lose the fullness of what it means.

The Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Bible Theology states it this way.

“In English, the word “peace” conjures up a passive picture, one showing an absence of civil disturbance or hostilities, or a personality free from internal and external strife. The biblical concept of peace is larger than that and rests heavily on the Hebrew root slm, which means “to be complete” or “to be sound.”

There are four different aspects to the meaning of the word.

1) Wholeness of life or body (health)

2) Right relationship or harmony between two parties

3) Prosperity, success, or fulfillment

4) Victory over one’s enemies or absence of war

When used in greetings or farewells, it acted as a blessing. “May your life be filled with health, prosperity, and victory.”

It blows my mind to think that this was the word that God used for me to wrap up what He wants for me as a child of His.  To be complete and whole.  It pretty much sums up everything else.  God wants me to be full of health, have victory, be in right relationship with him and others and to experience fulfillment.

Another interesting aspect to this word peace, is that all throughout the scripture it is continually linked to living a life of righteousness.  It seems to be that walking in peace, complete and whole, is a natural consequence of living right with God and with others.  The other aspects of being a child of God that he pulled out to me, obeying Him and becoming like him, they naturally lead to this life of walking in peace.

And if it boiled down to it, this is what I really want for my children.  I want them to be complete and whole as people.  I want them to experience hardship but grow and have victory over it.  I want them to have great relationships, with God and with other people.  I want them to experience success and fulfilment, and I want them to be healthy.

I feel like God has saved this big revelation for me until last.

As a child of God, He wants me to walk in peace.