The Fruitful Life: Peace

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22-24)

The Handbook of the United States Peace Corps says what a Peace Corp volunteer has to do if he is attacked by an anaconda snake. The anaconda is the largest snake in the world. You might think it was the boa constrictor. The anaconda is in the family with the boa constrictor, but it is larger than that. The anaconda snake grows to be 35 feet long and can weigh about 400 pounds. For the volunteers that are assigned to the Amazon Jungle, there is a section in the Peace Corp Handbook on what to do if you are attacked by an anaconda snake. There are 10 steps here that you are supposed to follow:

1. If you are attacked by an anaconda, do not run. The snake is faster than you are.
2. Lie flat on the ground. Put your arms tight against your sides, your legs tight together.
3. Tuck in your chin.
4. The snake will come and begin to nudge and begin to climb over your body.
5. Do not panic.
6. After the snake has examined you, it will begin to swallow you from the feet in, always from the feet in. Permit the snake to swallow your feet and ankles. Do not panic.
7. The snake will now begin to suck your legs into its body. You must lie perfectly still. This will take a long time.
8. When the snake reaches your knees, slowly and with as little movement as possible, reach down, take out your knife, & very gently slide it between the edge of the snakes mouth and your leg. Then suddenly rip upwards severing the snake’s head.
9. Be sure to have your knife with you.
10. Be sure your knife is sharp.

I don’t know if the person who shared this with me was stretching the truth a bit because I can’t really see something like this in the Peace Corps Handbook. But it does tell about the importance of a calm interior in the face of a stormy exterior. Let me remind you of our study yesterday:

Peace – A quiet interior that leads to a calm exterior. Peace is a verb that has to do with binding together and reflects the expression “having it all together.” Peace means everything is in place as it ought to be.

Someone said, "My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished two bags of M&Ms and a chocolate cake. I feel better already."

I. Peace is the benefit of salvation. (Rom 5: 1)

II. Peace is given to us by Jesus. (John 14:27)

III. Peace has no relationship to circumstances. (Rom 8:28)

IV. Peace means there is no reason to be anxious or afraid. (Phil. 4:6-7)

V. Peace is always present when our focus is on the giver of peace, not the trait of peace itself. I love this quote by Charles Spurgeon: “I looked at Christ and the dove of peace flew into my heart. I looked at the dove of peace and it flew away.”

So, keep your eyes on Jesus. Set your constant gaze on Him. Never forget: Jesus died on the cross to give you peace. Then you can experience inner calmness when walking through a storm.

Dr. Derek