Galatians 5:22-23 When we make peace in God, we secure a legacy of peace for future generations.
Galatians 5:22-23 When we make peace in God, we secure a legacy of peace for future generations.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Background
The biblical notion of peace or Shalom differs from the modern notion of peace which means an absence of conflict. But the biblical notion of peace means so much more… it connotes safety, fullness and holiness in mind, body and estate. Peace begins with the indwelling Spirit through which we attain peace in God… which leads to peace in ourselves, and peace in others. And eventually peace in all our endeavours and our descendants. In today’s devotion, we learn: When we make peace in God, we secure a legacy of peace for future generations.
Observation
But the fruit of the Spirit is… peace.
Jesus and His disciples primarily spoke Aramaic, a Semitic language closely related to Hebrew. The biblical word for peace—shalom (Hebrew) or shlama (Aramaic)—differs greatly from the Western idea of peace as merely the absence of conflict. Shalom means wholeness: safety in mind, body, and estate. It conveys completeness, holiness, and inner order that overflows into blessing and wellbeing for others.
This fuller meaning is captured in the Aaronic blessing spoken over Israel:
“The LORD bless you, and keep you…
The LORD lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.” — Numbers 6:23–26
Contextually, this blessing prepared Israel to enter and conquer the Promised Land. If peace meant the absence of conflict, the blessing would be incoherent. Jesus clarified that His mission was not to bring a superficial peace, but divine shalomunder God’s rule:
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” — Matthew 10:34
Later, Jesus distinguished His peace from the world’s peace:
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” — John 14:27
True shalom exists only under Christ’s rule. More than that, Jesus grants His followers authority to establish shalom in the world. This reality is vividly portrayed at creation:
“The earth was formless and void… and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.” — Genesis 1:1–2
Though the earth was chaotic and uninhabitable, it remained fully subject to God. The Spirit rested in shalom while exercising sovereign control over chaos. This is the same shalom Jesus demonstrated when He rebuked the storm, saying, “Peace, be still,” and there was great calm (Mark 4:39).
Having overcome the world through His resurrection, Jesus was seated far above all rule, authority, and power (Ephesians 1:21). From this position of supreme authority, He established eternal shalom by raising believers with Him and seating them in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). United with Christ, we receive divine wisdom and authority to rule and to establish God’s shalom—order, wholeness, and righteousness—in the world.
Truth
When we make peace in God, we secure a legacy of peace for future generations.
In the previous article, we saw divine love expressed in one’s desire to be united with Christ. Love, in its essence, is to partake in the divine nature—to be as Christ is: divine in being, wise in discernment, virtuous in character, and authoritative in righteousness. This love is expressed in the great commandment:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind.”
— Luke 10:27a
Divine peace is built upon this foundation of divine love. When we unite ourselves with God in love, we receive divine peace through the Holy Spirit. Peace does not arise from a vacuum; it emanates from the God of peace Himself. Therefore, by first making peace with God—through reconciliation and union with Him—we receive the Holy Spirit, who establishes peace within us.
As this peace takes root, we learn to forgive and to sanctify ourselves from the sinful nature. This inward transformation leads us to make peace with others: forgiving those who offend us and placing the interests of the community above our own. In doing so, we lay the groundwork for a legacy of peace and prosperity that extends to future generations.
Peace in God.
To be at peace in God is to be reconciled with Him and to be called His son. Here, we acknowledge God as our Father and die to our wilful, self-governing nature. With God as our Father, we are kept from harm and evil—not merely by external protection, but by inward transformation.
Making peace with God requires that we come to terms with His purposes for our lives and relinquish our own self-directed plans. One who refuses to deny his former self and set aside his own will can never be fully at peace with God. The apostle Paul expresses this reality clearly:
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
— Galatians 2:20
We make peace in God by continually reminding ourselves of our identity. As sons of God, we renounce our allegiance to the world and commit ourselves wholly to loving God with all our hearts. In this reconciliation, we grow into His likeness and are given divine authority to rule with Christ.
Peace in ourselves.
Only after we have resolved to be at peace in God can we be at peace within ourselves. Making peace in ourselves is synonymous with allowing the attributes of Christ to be formed in us. It begins with letting go of fear, knowing that Christ has borne our punishment, and continues with dying daily to our former selves by putting on Christ’s character.
This transformation requires discipline: the continual reading of God’s Word and honest self-reflection. Peace in God without peace in ourselves carries no lasting benefit. It is like a man who looks at his reflection in a mirror, notices the dirt on his face, and walks away without cleansing himself.
When we examine ourselves in the light of God’s holiness, the blood of Christ cleanses our sinful attitudes and habits. In making peace within ourselves, we begin to desire what Christ desires, to perceive as Christ perceives, and to act as Christ acts. Paul describes the fruit of this divine peace:
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things… and the God of peace will be with you.”
— Philippians 4:7–9
In this process, our hearts and minds are infused with heavenly things while destructive thoughts are kept at bay.
Having made peace in God and within ourselves, we become complete and empowered as sons—assured of forgiveness, security, and provision. From this place of wholeness, peace begins to overflow into the lives of those around us.
Peace in others.
Much of the world suffers not from a lack of physical provision, but from a lack of peace. Paul exhorts believers:
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.”
— Colossians 3:15
The peace of Christ—the fullness of His life—must govern our hearts and overflow into our communities. This overflow is expressed through compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; through bearing with one another and forgiving as Christ forgave us (see Colossians 3:12–13). In all that we do, in word or deed, we are to emulate Christ Himself (see Colossians 3:17).
By living this way, we remove strife and enmity, establishing wholeness and peace within our communities. Scripture affirms this promise:
“When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
— Proverbs 16:7
Peace in our legacy.
Peace in God leads to peace within ourselves, which leads to peace in others—and ultimately to a legacy of peace for future generations. The prophet Isaiah foresaw this outcome for those who walk in the Spirit:
“Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high…
Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
And righteousness will abide in the fertile field.
And the work of righteousness will be peace…
My people will live in peaceful habitation.”
— Isaiah 32:15–18
This is a vivid picture of Spirit-led peace. Those who walk in the Spirit will prosper in their endeavors: the wilderness becomes fruitful, justice and righteousness are established, and future generations inherit peace, security, and rest.
It must be emphasized that peace begins with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit, man cannot be at peace with God, with himself, or with others—and is ultimately destined for destruction. Therefore, let us persevere in making peace in God through the Spirit, in ourselves, and in others, while exercising our divine authority to establish peace.
Let us walk in the Spirit—and witness the rise of a lasting legacy of peace for generations to come.
Application
Make peace in yourself knowing that Christ through His mercy has taken our punishment. This gift of forgiveness has freed us from the fear of retribution. With gratefulness, we give ourselves fully to serve God and accomplish His will. Stop condemning yourself for your past mistakes, but take joy for having been freed from the prison of sin and darkness. Do not return and be imprisoned by sin.
Make peace with and in others by forgiving those who have hurt you. Put the interest of the community above the ourselves and consider others as more important ourselves (see Philippians 2:3-4). Make it our goal to work for the good of the community by offering our time and resources.
Bring peace into our legacy by being a peacemaker. A peacemaker is one who brings peace into the world by establishing justice and righteousness. For the sons of God will be exemplarary in bearing the legacy and hallmark of peace in all that they say and do (see Matthew 5:9). And their descendants will experience enduring peace.
Dear Lord, I thank you for putting the Spirit of peace within me. As I make peace with myself, sanctify me and cause me to be make peace with others. Use me to unify the community in love, justice and godliness. Use me to create an enduring legacy of peace in the church and in my descendants. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.