SHALOM

Dining with Jesus Christian Episodes

THIS IS TABLE ROCK FELLOWSHIP – PASTOR RYAN LADEN (DEVOTIONALS)

Shalom

This week we spent time hearing and learning about the gift of peace that Jesus promises. Pastor Bobby taught from John 14, Colossians 3, and Philippians 4.
 

  • In John, we have the gift (”Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you”)
  • In Colossians, how the gift will rule our hearts (“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body”)
  • and in Philippians, that this gift will guard and protect our hearts and minds (“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”).

Peace with God;
Peace of God;
Peace with the world;
Peace within ourselves;
All and more of the above?

So, the fair question is, what is this peace? how was it understood? and what is its deeper meaning?

We may think of peace in worldly terms, such as the absence of war, or an alliance with others; but the absence of war does not mean we are at peace. We may have a conflict at work or home, where we come to some agreement on how to resolve the conflict, but does that actually leave our hearts and minds un-troubled

What does it Actually Mean?


The word used for “peace” is one we probably have all heard – shalom. Now it is a word that is used for, “hello,” “goodbye,” and “peace as above.” But it has a much deeper meaning than this.

The Christian author Cornelius Plantinga described the biblical concept of shalom as:
 

“The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom. We call it peace but it means far more than mere peace of mind or a cease-fire between enemies. In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Savior opens doors and welcomes the creatures in whom he delights. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.”



The 15th century sage Rabbi Isaac Arama explains that shalom does not mean merely the absence of war or strife. It means completeness, perfection, the harmonious working of a complex system, integrated diversity, a state in which everything is in its proper place, and all is at one with the physical and ethical laws governing the universe.

He described this as:
 

“Peace is the thread of grace issuing from Him, may He be exalted, stringing together all beings, supernal, intermediate, and lower. It underlies and sustains the reality and unique existence of each.”


Elsewhere in the same era, Isaac Abarbanel writes:


“That is why God is called peace, because it is He who binds the world together and orders all things according to their particular character and posture. For when things are in their proper order, peace will reign.”

Conclusion


The peace of Christ – the peace He gives us – the peace He leaves us, is the unity, the order, the proper alignment of each of us with God, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Only by the Holy Spirit can we have His peace, and be united with His purpose for us, and to operate in the world – not of the world, as God designed and desires us to live.

To truly be in His image and likeness.


– Daniel Joseph, Elder

OUR MISSION AS A CHURCH

“TO ENCOURAGE AND EQUIP EACH OTHER IN LOVE TO KNOW JESUS AND MAKE HIM KNOWN”

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