Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.
Isaiah 26:3-4
The world is a dusty, dirty place, and we as Christians must walk in it every day. There are times when we experience conflict, and the daily grind can weigh heavily upon our bodies to bring us down. It is no wonder that Jesus told the twelve disciples to shake off the dust of their feet if they were not received in a city or a person’s home [see Matthew 10:14]. We go out to work, play, and buy, and it is not always pleasant. We witness anger, arguing, and nasty words that are not worth mentioning, but we see no peace. Visiting someone’s house who may or may not be receptive to what you have to say can be nerve-racking. Some do not want to hear what you have to say because you’re a Christian. We may want to tell the world what God has given us, but we are slapped in the face or told to shut up. Has this happened to you? Has someone walked away from you because you are a Christian? Some may even say, “Oh! You think you are so righteous.” It happened to me. I just looked upon the person with sadness in my heart, for they were speaking judgment rather than the love of God. This is a reflection upon themselves that they are not what they want to be.
Only those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God who died and arose from the dead have been given the gift of Christ’s righteousness. The word righteous is a Hebrew word “ tsadiyq,” meaning to be upright or just. This speaks to an upright or just man. The meaning of a just man refers to a person who is right with God and follows God’s commandments. As a child of God, we carry the peace of God with us everywhere we go. If you are not received by an individual, when you depart, shake off the dust of your feet. Why? Shaking off the dust of our feet is a testimony against them.
“And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”
Luke 9:5
This speaks to the day of judgment, and your peace should be returned to you. We are to be at perfect peace, regardless of what is happening in the world around us. God’s peace should reign within our hearts. Jesus told his disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid,” [John 14:27]. As Christian we see with different eyes because of Christ’s atonement on the cross.
It is because of Christ that we are a new creation. We are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has given us the ministry of reconciliation. This is the ministry of atonement for our sins, for judgment came upon us all, but through Christ we have the gift of justification toward life [see Romans 5:18-19]. We have been made righteous through Jesus Christ. If our mind is anchored in Christ, we will have perfect peace within our heart and soul. Our trust is in what Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross. Paul states that “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ,” [see Romans 5:1]. In fact, the entire fifth chapter of Romans 5 speaks about our justification. It is about living in the grace of God and having not only hope but peace. Paul affirms that through the tribulation that we experience, we will learn patience and hope. We are not ashamed because the love of God is in our hearts. Love is the fulfillment of the law [see Roman 13:10]. All things must be done through love, or it means nothing, and whatever is done is done in vain. That is why the apostle Paul stated in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, verse 13, “now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Love makes the world go round. . .love is what we humans need. Love is what God gave us through his son, Jesus. That love gave us perfect peace. As Christians, we are restored because we trust in the Lord. That is what Isaiah was talking about in chapter 26. It becomes a testimony of those who are restored and walk in the path of the just. Jesus Christ is our strength when we are weak. He is our peace if our mind is firmly anchored in him. We are not to be anxious about anything, but to pray and ask God for help. “Let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus,” [Philippians 4:7]. This is a promise that God gave us that we ourselves would have perfect peace if our mind and heart are anchored in Christ Jesus. If one does not have peace, we must ask the Lord to reveal the reason why we do not have peace. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what caused the peace to leave. Remember, a right relationship with God is an open relationship where nothing is hidden.
I remember singing this worship song titled “Peace Give I To Thee” at youth meetings in 1974. At that time, many young people sought peace and love instead of violence on their streets. Let this song resonate within your heart and share it with others as a reminder of who gives us peace, faith, hope, and love. May God’s perfect peace be with you at all times.