PEACE IS A GIFT FROM GOD

The desire to control leads to sin.  The desire to control causes strife with God and within one’s soul.  The desire to control is contrary to peace.

The motive behind the desire to control is to be in charge or, in other words, to be God.  The motive to be in charge deceives oneself into self-destructive behavior.  For example, many men who I have counseled, and I myself, behave anxiously when we experience peace. God’s peace is unnatural to sinners who want to be in charge.  Human nature wants struggle and chaos compared to God being in control.

Peace does not come from one’s doing.  God’s peace comes from our Father in heaven, only through Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Because Jesus is a free gift, obviously I am not in control.  If a sinner does not, with help of the Holy Spirit, master the need to control the sinner will act or omit to act according to God’s will.

          I sabotage peace from God.  My not being in charge of peace is disconcerting.  I then create chaos, which I am familiar with in my carnal nature.  At least, I reason, I am comfortable with my controlling the state I am in.  Deception!  Oh, wretched being that I am – thank God for Jesus Christ!  Romans 7:14-25

          Peace is a gift from God.  Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Apart from Jesus I am nothing.  Apart from Jesus I cannot have the Holy Spirit indwell within me; consequently I cannot have any fruit of the Holy Spirit or peace itself without Jesus in charge of my mind, life, soul, and heart.