Chapter 18 – I greet you today with the word Shalom!
Shalom is a salutation used by Jewish people at meeting or parting, meaning “Peace.” Jesus Himself, being a Jew, would have uttered the word Shalom many, many times in His life here on earth. I am focusing on Shalom today because peace seems to be missing in so many of the lives around us at this time. I had to ask myself what the answer would be for restoring peace in our lives, our country and in the world. I went to John 14 in the Holy Bible and found the answer:
John 14:23–29 (NLT)
23Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 25I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. 27“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart.And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.
WOW! Peace of mind and heart. I find it hard to imagine anyone turning down peace of mind and heart. I discovered many other passages about peace, and I’ll share a few of them with you:
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NLT) (Paul’s Final Greetings)
16Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.
Isaiah 26:3–4 (NLT)
3You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! 4Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)
11Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
John 16:33 (NLT)
33I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Philippians 4:6–7 (NLT)
6Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 5:19–23 (NLT)
19When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
In Jesus Christ we can have and enjoy PEACE that passes all understanding! If you haven’t yet trusted in Jesus there’s an easy fix! Simply reach out to Him in prayer, repent of your sins, and ask Him to be your Savior!
1 John 1:8–9 (NLT)
8If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Shalom!!!