Category Archives: Whole

Misty river winding through green fields beneath a rising sun
Bible, Harmony, Peace, Romans, Scripture, Whole

PEACE LIKE A RIVER

ROMANS 15:33

“Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”

You probably know the old Christian song “I’ve Got Peace like a River.” It says, “I’ve got peace like a river. I’ve got peace like a river. I’ve got peace like a river in my soul. I’ve got peace like a river. I’ve got peace like a river. I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.” It’s a simple little song, but it packs a powerful message.

Paul ends this chapter by giving the Lord a third character title. In Romans 15:5 he calls Him the God of patience (endurance). In Romans 15:13 He is called the God of hope. And here in today’s verse He is called the God of peace. What does that really mean? What is peace? It has been said that you cannot experience the peace of God until you have peace with God. That’s where it all starts.

APPLICATION

The Greek word for “peace” is eirḗnē. When two armies make peace, they stop fighting. That is not what eirḗnē means. You can experience God’s peace even in the midst of conflicts. The word means “wholeness, harmony, and well-being granted by God and experienced among His people. In the New Testament it is never a mere absence of conflict; it is the positive, covenantal state that flows from God’s redemptive work in Christ and is applied by the Holy Spirit to individuals and communities.” (Topical Lexicon)

One of my favorite verses on peace is Philippians 4:7 which says, “And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” This verse follows the verse that tells us to not be anxious about anything. Do you have that kind of peace today? It is within you if you are a follower of Christ. How do I know that? Because we are told that peace is part of the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22 tells us that. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,…”

No more comforting words can be found than in John 14:27 when Jesus tells His disciples, “‘Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you.’” Christ’s peace far exceeds any kind of peace the world may offer. His peace is perfect. Paul is praying for God’s peace to reign among the Jewish and Gentile believers there in Rome. You see there are three kinds of peace mentioned in the Bible – the peace with God, the peace of God and the peace with others.

So many of us grab onto those first two and shrug off the third. But we are told to pursue this peace in 2 Timothy 2:22. “pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” Paul mentioned this earlier in Romans 14:19. “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” Today, as you enjoy the God of peace, make peace with others.

I do have peace like a river, Lord. Let my peace with You flow over into the lives of others.

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Abundance, Bible, Father, Filled, Heaven, Holy Spirit, Scripture, Whole

ALL FILLED UP

EPHESIANS 4:10

“He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)”

Have you ever experienced such joy and happiness that you thought you were going to burst? Maybe you were about to see a close friend whom you haven’t seen in years. Perhaps a loved one who has been away is coming home. Maybe, it’s the birth of a grandchild (I can relate to that one right now). Whatever the circumstance, you cannot really put it in words.

Well, Paul kind of feels that way in today’s verse. As he is describing our Lord Jesus and how He came to earth (descended) and went back to heaven (ascended), he just finishes by saying “so that He might fill all things.” Jesus just completes everything. His glory fills the heavens. The angels, I am sure, rejoiced at His return. He is reunited with His Father in glory. Ellicott’s Commentary explains the phrase, “fill all things,” in this way. “But the words are too wide for any limitation. In heaven and earth, and the realms under the earth, His presence and sovereignty extends, by whatever means and over whatever beings He wills.”

APPLICATION

There’s an old Christian song entitled “Fill My Cup, Lord.” The chorus goes like this:

Fill my cup, Lord;
I lift it up Lord;
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.

When Jesus fills us, we should “want no more,” amen? We are told we are filled with the Spirit when we come to Christ. Jesus fills us completely, not halfway. Just as He fills all things, He fills all things in us. When I stop and get fuel for my truck, I am tempted sometimes to just get a little. But, of course, that means I will just have to stop again soon. So, what do I do? I fill it up. It lasts longer. Unlike my truck, though, the Holy Spirit fills us completely and permanently. I wish my truck could be filled permanently.

So, why do so many Christians have to keep “going back to their spiritual filling station”? May I suggest something? It’s not about getting more of the Spirit. It’s more about shedding more of their flesh. Our flesh keeps us from enjoying the fulness of Christ in our lives. Our flesh clogs our fuel lines and makes us start sputtering. Is your life sputtering right now? Check your fuel line. Check your faith. Come before the Lord and pour out your heart to Him today.

Thank You, Lord, for filling my heart with Your Spirit. Help me open myself up completely to You.

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All, Attributes, Bible, Fullness, Holy Spirit, Scripture, Whole

ALL IN ALL

EPHESIANS 1:23

“which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Do you remember the Three Musketeers? They were in it together. All for one and one for all. They had each other’s backs. They never left a man behind. You know, all those “together” cliches. We still use those cheers today in our sports competitions. I remember one year our football team broke every first huddle of the game with “All for one.” It sounded good but didn’t insure a victory on the field that night.

As Paul finishes up chapter one (I know, there were no chapters in the original letter), he gives us this last phrase, “the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” What did Paul mean by that? What was the message the Holy Spirit was trying to portray in these words? It undoubtedly is referring to the omnipresence (all presence) of Christ. He is everywhere, filling all things.

APPLICATION

What does that mean for us? Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:6. “There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.” The All Present God Who is in all things is working all things in us. Isn’t that just coolest thing you have ever heard? He wants to give you His all.

A few chapters later in chapter 15 and verse 28 of I Corinthians, we find this from Paul. “When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.” Christ is all in all. God is all in all. God wants us to have His all. What else could you ask for?

And then in Colossians 3:11, we have this verse, “a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free, but Christ is all, and in all.” So, “all in all” isn’t just a cute catchphrase. It has serious meaning for us as believers and followers of Christ. He is our everything. Is He your everything today?

Father God, You are my All in all. You fill my life with Your presence

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