DAY 321 - Shalom

Philippians 1:1,2, 4-9 (NIV)  Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: ² Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. ⁸ God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

Shalom is the Hebrew word meaning peace, and it has been used since the days of Abraham as a way of greeting one another and as a way of saying farewell. Jesus used the word several times in His ministry. I would like for us to sense something of the beauty and meaning of this word shalom, a word that has been so crucial in the life of the Christian community. Shalom is a word so rich and varied in meaning that it almost defies definition and description. It means more than simply peace. Shalom has been defined as the full blessings of God, the ideal state in life, wholeness and well-being, and harmony between mind, body, soul.

Shalom is peace that is found not be escaping the turmoils of life, but peace that comes from a secure relationship to God. It is to have the peace of inner conviction, to have mind, body, soul, actions committed to one thing, to be so committed that all of the threats, arguments, and pressures of the world cannot disturb or make us falter from that commitment.

Shalom. To be at peace with God, to know a oneness with Him that fills our whole life and enables us to be in touch with our inner self, with others, and with the world around us.

But shalom does not drop down from heaven. It is the work of the Holy Spirit through human beings. Shalom is a gift of God that we can give one another when we are truly being a Christian fellowship. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Shalom.

From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope February 24, 1974

© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell (Broyles)