The Jewel of Peace

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2 Thessalonians 3:16

Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

I. THE MANY-SIDED BLESSING. The peace of the text is a gem with many facets, but —

1. Its main bearing is towards God.

(1) The Atonement has wrought perfect reconciliation and established everlasting peace. Into the enjoyment of this all believers enter.

(2) Our hearts should be at peace by being fully in accord with God's will. Some of God's children complain of His dealings with them and so have not perfect peace.

(3) There is also the peace of conscious complacency, the sense of Divine love which is lost when God hides His face through our sin. Peace because sin is forgiven is the fruit of justification (Romans 5:1). Peace because the heart is made to agree with the will of God is the result of sanctification. "To be spiritually minded is...peace." Peace through consciousness of Divine love is attendant on the spirit of adoption.

2. This peace spreads itself abroad, and covers all things with its soft light. He who is at peace with God is at peace with all things that are God's, and all things work together for his good.

3. This practically shows itself in the Christian's inward peace with regard to his present circumstances. He sees God's hand in everything, and is content. Is he poor? The Lord makes him rich in faith. Is he sick? The Lord endows him with patience.

4. This peace is mainly to be found in the soul itself as to its thoughts, believings, hopings, and desires: "the good man is satisfied from himself." Some minds are strangers to peace.

(1)  How can they have peace where they have no faith.

(2)  When they are much afraid.

II. THE SPECIAL DESIRABLENESS OF THIS PEACE.

1. It is essential to the joy, comfort, and blessedness of the Christian life.

2. Without peace you cannot grow, A shepherd may find good pasture for his flock, but if they are hunted about by dogs they will soon become skin and bone.

3. Without peace you cannot bear much fruit. If a tree is frequently transplanted, you cannot reasonably look for many golden apples.

4. Stability is dependent on peace. The doctrine can soon be driven out of a man's head which affords no light and comfort to his heart.

5. You must have peace for your soul's wealth. As war spends and peace gathers the riches of nations, so does inward strife devour us, while spiritual peace makes the soul fat.

III. THE SOLE PERSON FROM WHOM THIS PEACE MUST COME — the Lord Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Who else can it be but He whom the angels announced with "Peace on earth"; who made peace by the blood of His Cross; who is "our Peace," having broken down the middle wall of partition; who said, "My peace I leave with you," etc.?

1. The apostle does not say, "May the Lord of Peace send His angel or His minister to give you peace," or "May you have it at the communion table, or in reading the Word, or in prayer." In all these we might be refreshed — but "Himself" give you peace.

(1) We do not obtain peace except from the Lord Himself. His Person is a source of peace.

(2) He "gives" this peace; not merely offers it to you, or argues with you that you ought to have it, or shows you the grounds.

2. "The Lord be with you all" — as much as to say, "That is what I mean; if He is present, you must enjoy peace." Let the sea rage, yet when Jesus arises there will be a great calm.

IV. THE SWEEP OF THE PRAYER.

1. "Always." On weekdays as well as Sundays; in the prayer meeting and in the workshop; with the Bible and with the ledger; at all times, under all circumstances, and everywhere. Why are we troubled, when we may have this peace always?

2. "By all means." Some agencies evidently make for peace, but He can give us peace by opposing forces; by the bitter as well as the sweet; the storm as well as the peace; loss as well as gain; death as well as life. There are two grand ways of giving us peace.

(1) By taking away all that disquiets us. Here is one who frets because he does not make much money, or has lost some. Suppose the Lord takes away his covetousness; he is at peace, not because he has more money, but less of grasping desire. Another is ambitious. Suppose the grace of God humbles him so that be only wishes to be and to do what the Lord wills; how readily he rests. Another has an angry temper; the Lord does not alter the character of the people round about him, but makes him gentle. What peace he now feels!

(2) By discoveries of Himself and His grace. Conclusion: "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."

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