Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Psalm 85:10
A Good Hug
Psalm 85:10 beautifully illustrates the harmony between righteousness and peace. Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. As much as love belongs with faithfulness, so does righteousness belong with peace. When the two meet, they kiss. And where you find a real kiss, you find a good hug too.
To me, I think a good hug fixes a real lot. There's something about a good hug that is just so nice and can make everything feel "all better."
"Shalom"
Peace goes well beyond just the absence of conflict. Peace comes through God’s righteousness, which unites both parties in love. When one Jew wishes another "Shalom," they are not simply wishing for the absence of conflict but for the fullness of God's righteousness. Shalom is to wish one’s neighbor the highest goodness. It aims to replace conflict with God's righteousness. True peacemakers don't just cease conflict but actively work to replace it with the goodness and righteousness of God. Peacemakers strive for genuine reconciliation (if possible), expressing an aggressive pursuit of good, by grace through faith in Jesus. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. Romans 12:18
Truce Versus Peace
Peace is not the absence of something but the presence of it. As a truce is the absence of conflict, peace is the presence of God's righteousness. A truce simply means putting down our weapons and refraining from shooting for a while. The world’s definition of peace is more like a temporary lull, while everyone reloads to shoot again. In reality, the world’s peace is only a truce. On the contrary, God’s peace, true peace, is when the truth is acknowledged, the matter is resolved, and the two parties come together in harmony, kissing and hugging one another. Now that's real peace!
Many people believe that peace simply means ceasing fire to eliminate all conflict. However, this approach only causes tension to grow beneath the surface. What comes from a mere truce is essentially a cold war, which is still a form of conflict. By attempting to suppress conflicts in the name of peace, we might create a situation far worse than if we had allowed the conflict to play out naturally. A truce is simply an unresolved conflict that is likely to fester, blow up, or cause something chronic or even deadly to both sides. A truce is a silent, yet brewing divide. A mere truce gives us a heavy heart, but God’s peace grants us a light heart.
First Pure Then Peaceable
According to James, true wisdom is characterized by purity and peace. But the wisdom from above is first pure then peaceable (James 3:17). The wisdom that comes from God leads to peace only through purity. In other words, true peace cannot be pursued at the expense of God's righteousness. True peace is only achieved when people recognize and admit their own sinful ways, humbly acknowledge the truth of the matter, and earnestly seek reconciliation before God. Hebrews 12:14 emphasizes the importance of pursuing peace accompanied by holiness. Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Peace, holiness, purity, and righteousness are all interwoven and inseparable. They are all required for resolving conflict. Peace is a result of holiness, purity, and righteousness.
True Peacemakers
Walking away from an argument or taking some space to think can be beneficial. However, when two people are fighting or arguing, the solution is not to keep them apart for long, but rather to unite them. This way they can address the issue in truth, reconcile, and hug one another to make things right, achieving real peace together and in the quietness of their own hearts. Scripture says this is what people who believe in Jesus practice; they practice peacemaking. In the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us that true believers will be characterized by peacemaking. They will exhibit a habit and pattern of peacemaking in their life for all to see. Peacemaking is evidence of being Sons of God. “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called Sons of God” (Mat 5:8).
The Greatest Peace
As peacemakers, the greatest peace we could ever bring to someone is sharing the Gospel with them, since faith in Jesus is peace with God (Rom 5:1), the greatest form of peace that exists. When we have peace with God, we have eternal peace in our souls.
The meeting of love and faithfulness and the kissing of righteousness and peace are perfectly demonstrated in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross. By grace through faith in Jesus, we are given the ultimate peace; peace with God (Rom 5:1). We receive total forgiveness for our sins and are reconciled to God through the death of His Son (Rom 5:10). Jesus’ love and mercy offer us the gift of eternal life through His sacrifice and resurrection from the dead (Rom 10:9-11). The ultimate kiss and hug of righteousness and peace in Jesus Christ brings us reconciliation with God, gifting us with eternal peace in our souls. Jesus gives us a real good hug through His perfect righteousness that brings us perfect peace. Jesus gives the best hug ever!
All glory belongs to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.
Therefore, having been justified through faith in Christ, we have peace with God. Romans 5:1
And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:18
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11
Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy. Proverbs 12:20
Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:11
Part of Devotion inspired by “Happy are the Peacemakers” by John MacArthur (I recommend listening).
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