Need Peace?

Photo credit: Sharon McCutcheon, unsplash.com

The word shalom means "peace" in Hebrew. What comes to mind when you think of peace? No war? Getting along with people? Inner calm?

The word shalom comes from the root shalam, which has an amazing depth of meaning. It means, to be whole or complete, full, perfect, uninjured, finished, to restore. It also means to pay or complete a transaction, to make recompense, to give an offering.

This creates an interesting picture. We can see that payment made in full renders satisfaction on all sides of a transaction, leaving nothing undone or incomplete. Perfect.

Jesus is called our Prince of Peace. He paid what was wanting in our transaction with God by offering Himself, the perfect One, as an offering, restoring our relationship with the Father, making us whole. Healing our injury. Paying our debt of sin. Bridging our alienation. Completing in us what was lacking.

Colossians 4:12b "... that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."

Colossians 3:15a " And let the peace of God rule in your hearts "

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Ephesians 2:14a "... For he is our peace "

Look to the perfect One, the One who is able to make you whole. His name is Jesus Christ.