The Peace of God
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
The biblical teaching of the Holy Spirit is known as pneumatology (from the Greek pneuma). Pneuma means “wind,” “breath,” “air” and indicates an invisible but active entity or force. It is a word used for the Spirit of God, the third person of the Trinity. In the book of Galatians, pneuma appears eighteen times as a reference to the Spirit and helps us in our understanding of the Spirit’s work. In Galatians Chapter 5 alone includes eight references to God’s Spirit (v 5, 16, 17 [2x], 18, 22, 25 [2x]). The Spirit inspires hope (v 5), and empowers us for God-honouring living (v 16) and fruitfulness.
In Galations 5, the apostle Paul wrote of “The Peace of God,” this is true peace, and is far more than the mere absence of conflict; it is the presence of God’s wholeness. All of us need this shalom, and it is only found in Christ and His Spirit. This is why Paul pointed the Galatians to the Spirit’s transformational work. As the Holy Spirit operates in our lives, He generates His fruit that includes “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (v 22–23).
Read
Galatians 5:16–25.
Prayer
God of shalom, thank You that Your desire is for peace to reign in my life. Thank You for the work of Jesus to make peace available and the work of the Spirit, whose fruit in my life brings peace. Amen.
Amen