The word for peace in every one of these verses is eirene. This is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word "shalom", both of which mean harmony, concord, welfare. It is also a traditional Jewish farewell. In Romans 14, Paul is warning his Christian friends to think about how their choices might cause someone else to stumble. Some things aren't worth the argument if it destroys your testimony. The kingdom is not legalism--it's right living, harmony, and awareness of God's grace. Ephesians 2 is a wonderful explanation of the New Testament, the New Covenant which, as we learned in our Hebrews study, is guaranteed and secured by Christ Jesus. Paul, the author of our Galatians verses, also urges the Ephesian church to walk in unity with each other, bound together by the peace that comes from the Holy Spirit. He emphasizes the "oneness" of every aspect of our calling, indivisible. James, Jesus' own brother, contrasts the idea of peace (much like the works of the flesh in our key verses). He teaches that bitterness, jealousy, selfish ambition, boasting, and lying are demonic and divisive, opposing forces to the wisdom from above. Peter quotes Psalm 34:11-16 in 1 Peter 3. (I went back and read from verse 8 in 1 Peter to get a better understanding.) Both Peter and the psalmist underline seeking peace and pursuing it.
Galatians 5:16-26 is contrasting the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. The works of the flesh are divisive and alienating. I think we are living in a very divisive time, full of conflict. We have to really look for harmony and unity to find it, and even that may change overnight. We not only have to seek peace, but we also have to chase after it. Walking in the Spirit will always lead us in the right direction. In Romans 14:17-19. Paul is talking about eating food that was considered unclean to Jewish people. It was a real hot topic, actually hindering the spread of the Gospel. I won't mention any specifics in the interest of pursuing peace, but can we name a few hot topics in our world today? We want to be heard, we want to be right, we want to win. And so did the believers in Rome in Paul's day. They were taught eating certain things were unclean, and they didn't care who they had to step on to prove it. Paul is teaching love over opinions, peace over law. My mind and heart were changed by these verses. The kingdom of God is not a matter of dos and don'ts. If I know I am grieving a brother by forcing moral law rather than freedom in Christ, I am not walking in love. And therefore, I am not chasing after peace. No matter my opinion on certain hot topics, I cannot act or react in a way that destroys the one for whom Christ died. 😠If we walk in love and run after peace, we will be well-pleasing to God, and tested and approved by man. #goals
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