Though she’s not two until summer, my granddaughter, Amelia, already knows how to tug on my heartstrings. When we meet up for a meal or family gathering and it’s nearing time to go, she reaches for me or climbs up in my lap, saying, “Ride in Lolly’s car,” or “Go to Lolly’s house.” Before the last month, I could simply carry her to her car seat and buckle her in and wave goodbye and she settled just fine, but more recently, she pitches quite a fit!
All young children experience differing degrees of separation anxiety and at different ages and stages. Our eldest reserved his loudest protests until age four. Amelia’s involved arching her back against being buckled in and wailing uncontrollably. We’ve all done our best to ease her departures and she’s mostly gotten over it already, but I wonder if part of what it means to be made in the image of God is to long for togetherness, completeness, wholeness. We all cling to whatever makes us feel secure at any given moment. That may change with the weather until we find ourselves in Christ.
The Hebrew word shalom literally means peace, but it’s much more than our English word conveys. It is meant to communicate the kind of wholeness where all is right with the world, where God is in His rightful place, and all of our relationships just work. It’s the kind of unity in the faith about which Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, a letter meant to be passed on through the ages to us also.
”But that doesn’t mean you should all look and speak and act the same.
Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift.
He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.“
Ephesians 4:7-13 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/eph.4.7-13.MSG
But things don’t always move easily and rhythmically in our homes, with our families, in our workplaces, and in our relationships. We all have off days and sometimes, in spite of our best efforts to keep the peace and pursue it, we fall back into old ruts, especially in our dealings with those closest to us. (Psalm 34:14) It’s not hard to see what it means to live in a fallen world. What’s more difficult is proving that the peace of God is possible in spite of what’s happening to and around us.
”For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.
Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.
And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— may he equip you with all you need for doing his will.
May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.“
Hebrews 13:14-16, 20-21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.13.14-21.NLT
Peace is not merely the absence of conflict. A hard won peace is often only surface level and tenuous at best. In our own strength and left to our own devices, we are not capable of achieving shalom. God’s perfect peace is a fruit of His Spirit in the hearts, minds, and lives of those who trust in Him.
”But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful and gentle and having control of oneself.
There is no law against things of that kind. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their sinful desires to his cross. They don’t want these things anymore.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.“
Galatians 5:22-25 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/gal.5.22-25.NIRV
”You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!“
Isaiah 26:3 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.26.3.NLT
”So God has put everything under his Son. Everything is under his control.
(Yet…)
We do not now see everything under his control. But we do see Jesus already given a crown of glory and honor.
He was made lower than the angels for a little while. He suffered death. By the grace of God, he tasted death for everyone. That is why he was given his crown.
God has made everything. He is now bringing his many sons and daughters to share in his glory.
It is only right that Jesus is the one to lead them into their salvation. That’s because God made him perfect by his sufferings.“
Hebrews 2:8-10 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/heb.2.8-10.NIRV
When we see Jesus, really see Him- exalted to His proper place, enthroned as God, reigning in Sovereignty- when we honor Him in obedience as our Lord and King, then and only then can we experience His peace that surpasses our ability to comprehend.
”Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful!
Don’t worry about anything. No matter what happens, tell God about everything.
Ask and pray, and give thanks to him. Then God’s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds.
He will do this because you belong to Christ Jesus.
God’s peace can never be completely understood.“
Philippians 4:4, 6-7 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/php.4.6-7.NIRV
“When God becomes the means to the end, unity is never achieved; when God himself is the end, the glorious byproducts of unity and peace are never far behind.
The sheer God-centeredness of biblical religion is one of the things that regularly distinguishes it from paganism, which commonly sees religion as a means to certain ends.”
For The Love Of God: Day 305 • Devotional
https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/786/day/305?segment=0
”You are God’s chosen people. You are holy and dearly loved. So put on tender mercy and kindness as if they were your clothes.
Don’t be proud. Be gentle and patient. Put up with one another. Forgive one another if you are holding something against someone. Forgive, just as the Lord forgave you.
And over all these good things put on love. Love holds them all together perfectly as if they were one.
Let the peace that Christ gives rule in your hearts. As parts of one body, you were appointed to live in peace.
And be thankful.“
Colossians 3:12-15 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/col.3.12-15.NIRV
Only by the indwelling power of God’s Holy Spirit is this even possible.
”May the God who gives hope fill you with great joy.
May you have perfect peace as you trust in him.
May the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.“
Romans 15:13 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/rom.15.13.NIRV
”May the Lord who gives peace give you peace at all times and in every way.
May the Lord be with all of you.“
2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/2th.3.16.NIRV
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