The Lord of peace
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all (2 Thessalonians 3:16).
The Lord Jesus is described as “the Lord of peace”. It is through Him that we have peace with God, and have come to know the God of peace. In describing the Lord Jesus as the Lord of peace, Paul was explaining that the Saviour is able to bring peace to our hearts in every circumstance: “The Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.” And this is known by His presence:“The Lord be with you all.”
Paul was writing from his experience. The Lord had told Ananias that He had chosen Paul to be a special witness to Him, and that as part of this witness he would suffer many things (Acts 9:15-16). Paul later records the extent of these sufferings (see 2 Corinthians 11:22-33). But his writings also convey the peace that filled his heart as he fulfilled this ministry. The secret of this peace was the Lord’s abiding presence with him.
In his persecution of the Church, Paul’s heart was filled with self-righteousness and rage against the Lord’s people. Paul belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. Jacob, in the blessing of his sons, said of Benjamin, his youngest son, “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf” (Genesis 49:27). This violence was seen, in an extreme form, in Saul of Tarsus. The love, mercy and grace of Jesus transformed Saul, the wolf, into Paul, the shepherd. The rage he experienced was replaced by a peace which Paul himself describes as “surpassing all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). It is this peace that the apostle wanted us to know.
Enjoying peace in our hearts does not come from being in peaceful circumstances; it comes from a Person, the Lord of Peace. And it is experienced through His presence. The Lord Jesus is always with us. We have peace with God, based on our eternally secure salvation which cannot be taken away. But that doesn’t mean doubts, fear and anxiety can’t fill our hearts. Such things rob us of peace. To know “peace always and in every way” comes from knowing the presence of the “Lord of peace Himself” day by day.
When I have been ill, I have always found it easy to place myself in the care of doctors. I have never had a problem being able to explain how I feel and listen to my doctor’s advice, or submit to a procedure or an operation. I have confidence in the skills of those who are able to deal with ill health. But I also know many people who don’t share my experience! However, I do have to ask myself if I always come with confidence and complete trust to the Saviour. Do I seek His presence, explain my feelings, and cast my care upon the Lord of peace and leave it there? Or do I endure anxiety and press on regardless, carrying the care which weighs me down? The Lord Jesus wants us to be faithful and sacrificing, but He doesn’t want us to be alone, isolated in such circumstances. He wants us to develop communion with Himself and to “give us peace in every way”.
Each new day is best started in the presence of the Lord of Peace: worshipping, abiding, confiding and trusting Him in the daily journeys we take.
