The Gift of Peace

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about authority, leadership and what it should all look like. Sometimes it feels hard; like trudging through deep mud or maybe even running sprints in quicksand. Hard! But, why does it feel like this?

I recently took a step back, a step up to a higher plane--a return to rest. Often our bodies know something is off, but we don’t have the emotional maturity to pinpoint the grating--so we act out. Even though I want to power through and be everything for everyone, I can’t. I have to stop. With me it’s usually a hard, screeching, dramatic stop; I don’t always catch on so quickly and I’m hard on myself. I have a high level of expectation for myself. That still, small voice gets me every time, with a gentle ask, “are you enjoying yourself?”, I am yielded, brought low. What a question for the creator of all things to ask me. Enjoying? No, no I was not enjoying anything about what I was doing. I wasn’t enjoying myself to the fullest. I had sharp edges and my black and white thinking had taken over--this happens when I’ve journeyed too far from rest. It’s a long drawn out story of the relational woe’s of ministry, I’ll spare you the details and get to the resolve.

First, I want to go way back to Levitical law. Very odd place for me, you’ll hardly ever find me reveling in the law. But, I want us to understand a small something before we get to the big stuff. Under Levitical law there are five offerings Israel was conditioned to making. It’s the peace offering I want to pick apart; I want us to lay hold of and understand that a peace offering was set in place as a celebration. I want to note that peace is not something you barter for, it’s not an exchange--peace is a state of being, a substance to rest within. Israel would bring a peace offering not to attain peace, but to celebrate it. There were three reasons to bring a Peace Offering: Thanksgiving, Vows made following answered prayers--entering into peace and a free will, spontaneous expressions of love and joy. This wasn’t your common offering, you didn’t bring it and return with nothing. No. You brought your offering before the priest and returned home with a portion of your own to feast upon. I think that’s fascinating and worthy of remembering. You can read more about Peace Offerings in Leviticus 7. Leviticus is a whole lot of fun when reading it with the hot pursuit of uncovering Jesus.

Peace is a gift, generations would celebrate and marvel in it in expectation of what was to come. Jesus arrived the same way you and I did; the constricting, bloody, painful path of a birth canal. He was held within the womb of a lowly Jewish girl, growing and developing the same as you and me. He took the same route, the same entryway into the world. Yet, he is peace wrapped up as a gift, delivered to deliver.

Luke 2:8-14 offers the announcement of his birth made in a field, before an unsuspecting crew of shepherds. Theologians and historians believe this field was where the Paschal or Passover lambs were raised. Fitting, don’t you think! Furthermore, it is believed that the sign the angels tell the shepherd of is that Jesus, the Messiah would be found wrapped up, lying in the very cradle that the pure and spotless lambkins were kept. Brilliant. The Trinity love’s a good treasure hunt. “Peace and goodwill!”, the angels announced. Can you imagine just how freaked out those shepherds were? A dark, still night interrupted by Heaven’s glory; God certainly knows how to make an announcement.

I’ve gone searching for peace-filled treasure in a few different spots of scripture. I’ve landed in Isaiah, I love the way he talks about Messiah. These are passages that further break down this gift of peace brilliantly. Isaiah is nicknamed the Messianic Prophet, wouldn’t that have been an awesome privilege! (Side note: Did you know that Isaiah was married to a Prophetess, what a duo. Some smart bible scholars will side that she was only referred to as a prophetess because of Isaiah’s role. You decide.)

Let’s first look at Isaiah 7 first, to see how it was that Jesus continued to walk in the authority of peace, verses 14 and 15:

“Behold the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will name him God Among Us(Immanuel). He will eat curdled milk and honey and he will know enough to refuse the evil and choose the good.”

Feasting on the promises of Heaven, that’s what enabled Jesus to walk upright with Father God. He never stumbled! It’s hard for us to fathom, but he never allowed a wrong word to slip from his mouth. Immanuel is the partnership between heaven and earth, God and humanity; therefore, Jesus is showing us what we look like. He is our mirror image on earth. We were made in his image from day 6, he’s now walking around in ours, yet rightly portraying who we are in character and relationship to the Father. Jesus is the beauty of humanity found in the eyes of the beholder.

Paul picks up where Isaiah left off in Philippians 4:6-9:

Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. Follow the example of all that we have imparted to you and the God of peace will be with you in all things.

Paul’s is a further breakdown of what it looks like for us to feast on the promises of heaven. To walk in peace as Jesus did. Fixing our thoughts on things that are honorable and authentic will empower us to walk in peace with everyone; not just those who are most like us. It’s a journey, for sure and no matter where you are in your walk with God right now, know that nothing will ever change the reality of your existence in the heart of the Father. Jesus wasn’t just our image bearer, through deep compassion he became our advocate. He deeply empathized with humanity, finding the beauty in the mess. He advocated for union, the same union that he shared with Father God--inseparable oneness. That is a peace you can rest in.

Let’s continue on...

Isaiah 9 continues describing Jesus, this time in his authority. Here are verses 6 and 7:

For a child has been born for us, a son is given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Jesus’s governing authority is wrapped up in endless peace! How often do I equate authority with peace? Honestly, hardly ever. So often authority is rigged and provokes fear or terror. I’ve been under authority that causes me to wiggle simply because I’m unsure of intentions. Whether mean spirited, carrying confusion, Haute or arrogant we can be sure this is not the intention of godly authority. The highest levels of authority go low, “No greater love than when a man lays his life down for a friend.”, that’s sacrificially low. Leadership today is a dog eat dog world, even in churches. All jostling would end if we saw leadership and authority in the right light. It’s the laid down, the trampled ones that carry a genuine call to leadership. The humble are the ones who’ve inherited the earth; aka: carrying the most authority. When I walk into a room I want to be escorted by peace. Remember when Jesus sat with the woman at the well. How did he get her to let her guard down and seemingly so quickly? She had been walking under the influence of shame for years. Shame doesn’t go away quietly. He simply offers her peace within his authority. A peace so powerful that shame is silenced and she’s experiencing the thrill of freedom from sin; perhaps to a degree that many of us haven’t. She goes running through her town declaring, “come see the man who told me everything I've ever done!” Keep in mind the townspeople know what she’s done. Miraculous! She doesn’t care, peace has conquered her soul and set her free--shame has lost it’s fighting to peace. That’s powerful.

On to my favorite set of scripture in Isaiah 11:1-10

The cut off stump of Jesse will sprout, and a fruitful Branch will grow from his roots, the Spirit of Yahweh will rest upon him... He will find his delight in living by the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord. He will neither judge by appearances nor make his decisions based on rumors. With righteousness he will uphold justice for the poor and defend the lowly of the earth.

...Then the world will be subdued and live with the gentle lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the gentle lamb. The young calf and the ferocious lion will be together, and as a shepherd drives his flock, a small child will guide them along! ...On all my holy mountain of Zion, nothing evil or harmful will be found. For the earth will be filled with the intimate knowledge of the Lord Yahweh just as water swells the sea! On that day, the root of Jesse will be lifted up as a miracle-sign to rally the people. Gentiles will diligently seek him, and his resting place will be glorious.

Isn’t Jesus absolutely stunning through Isaiah’s eyes…

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When it’s nice out I enjoy walking down the country road near my house. Sometimes there is wildlife out and about. I and the snakes will never get along, they’re just creepy, and I will turn around if there is one on my path. One day, though, there was a brave deer in the field, she wasn’t far from the road at all. She noticed me, stared me down and started to turn to scramble back to the woods. I was fine with her decision, seemed wise by my estimate. Quickly Holy Spirit helped me take inventory of my heart. It was racing and fear was talking a hundred miles an hour. I’d been learning to pace my heart with his and to stay in tune. At that moment peace began to expand in me, at that same time the deer in the field stopped, turned back and resumed her grazing. We were at peace with one another! The rest of my walk was all about understanding the power of peace. Peace breaks down the walls that fear and shame have constructed. Sometimes we hear sham

e’s and fear’s words in wisdom’s voice, but it’s not the same at all. It’s a voice-over! God’s voice of peace will always render freedom, not entrapment.

Jesus’ kindness leads us to change our minds, not his strong-armed, rigged style of leadership. He is fully love and as such, peace and joy are his guides. His affections toward us do not waiver, he’s never waiting for us to get it together to draw near. His authority functions through rest! Listen to his words in Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

This is an invitation to offload the heaviness of regret, shame, and fear. To lie down beside the great shepherd in lush pastures, resting in his love. We walk in authority with ourselves first, we must ask ourselves often if we’re leading with peace guiding us out front. Feast on the nourishing promises of heaven, that enables us to truly know peace, to stay in a place of rest. Of course, there will be things that throw us off; we’re pretty much promised that we don’t have to break peace though--that’s also a promise. At every bend, offer up your heavy load in exchange for the easy and light of heaven, remain in rest as you go and peace will be your guide.

What does peace feel like for you? Knowing will help you grow in it. For me, peace feels a bit like floating. Sometimes it feels like its springing up from within. Other times it feels like an outside source surrounding me. Once you know what it feels like for you, you won't want to part from it. Ever.