The Fruit of Peace

Happy Sunday. A little over a year ago, I went sailing on a 40-foot catamaran in the Gulf of Mexico. It was glorious. I was with one of my brothers, two of my nephews, and a new friend. I'm not making this up: it was a preacher, a lawyer, an undertaker, a financial advisor, and a corporate executive. It sounds like the beginning of a great joke, but it's a true story.

We flew to Tampa, drove to Saint Pete, and we went to the marina at the Vanoy Hotel there in Saint Petersburg. Spent the night on the boat and then took off. Our first day, we sailed to Longboat Key. The wind was perfect for sailing and so relaxing, and we caught Spanish mackerel, and we ate really well.

On day two, the wind died down, and we had to use the engines a good bit of the time. We anchored at St. John's Pass. During the night, the weather changed, and we needed to get back to the marina. We set sail just as the sun was coming up. I think we needed to travel about 12 miles.

As I mentioned, the weather had changed. As it turned out, it was Hurricane Sally. Yes, there I was on a sailboat in the Gulf of Mexico in a hurricane. We could not put up the sails; the wind would have ripped them to shreds. We used the engines to trod slowly to our destination.

It was a day I will never forget. Now, I'm not a big worrier. I was glad I had life insurance. We were issued life jackets. I did my share of praying. I trusted the captain. My nephew Jordan did a great job getting us home safe.

My friends Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell a story about being in a boat in a storm and wondering if they would make it. Maybe you remember the story, and if you do, you recall that Jesus was with them. You recall what he was doing? I love what he was doing in the storm. He was sleeping, not worried a bit.

The frantic disciples woke him up and let him know that they were going to die; they weren't going to make it. And Jesus spoke, and the storm stopped, and all was calm, and the disciples learned a little bit more about what God can do. Life can have its share of storms, can't it? Maybe you're in the middle one right now.

Today we continue in our study of the fruit of the Spirit. To refresh, let me read from Galatians chapter 5, verses 22 and 23, where we are told "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Today we will look at the fruit of peace. In this stormy world, there are too many without peace.

As a Christian, you are given the peace of God. We're told this in Philippians 4, verses 6 and 7: "Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God." And then we're given this promise: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Here we are promised a guard for our heart. We are promised a peace that passes understanding. The world cannot understand the peace, because it only comes for believers.

Almost 20 years ago, I was with a family in a hospital waiting room while their son was living his last week of life. In those days, back before COVID, you were allowed to stay in the hospital 24 hours a day, and we did. There were family members and church members and friends constantly in and out. I was there most of the time.

Every day the news got worse and worse, and at the end of the week, I needed to head back home to work on a sermon for the following Sunday. I hated leaving the family, but I had to prepare. I asked the parents, whose son was not far from heaven, what they wanted me to preach about. I'll never forget, they said, "Peace."

It was one of those moments when God was near. This family of faith had the peace that passes understanding, that the world would never understand. In the worst storm of their lives, they experience the peace of God that passes understanding. The fruit of peace is such a wonderful blessing. We should be so thankful for it.

On December the 7th, 1988, an earthquake rocked the northern section of Armenia. Over 25,000 people lost their lives. In one small town, a father rushed to his son's school, not knowing what to expect. Unfortunately, the school was flattened.

The father immediately began digging through the rubble with his bare hands. People told him that his efforts were useless; there was no way that he would find anyone who survived. He kept digging anyway, in spite of the naysayers. He did not take a break: 12 hours, 24 hours, 36 hours.

After 38 hours, he heard voices, and one of the voices was his son. 14 children were rescued that day. The man became a local hero. Can you imagine to his son what his son thought of his father? I'm sure he was his son's hero.

As believers, we should trust our Father. Think of the lengths he has gone to over the years to watch over you. That day that I was on a sailboat in a hurricane comes to mind. When we completely trust our Father, peace will be ours.

The word for peace in Galatians 5 is a Greek word, arenae, I Renee. It means peace or quietness or rest. It's a beautiful picture of a life that is secure and unshakeable, no matter what the storm is. May God bless you as you rest in his peace.

Let's pray together. Lord, thank you for the fruit of peace, and thank you that while we are in storms and difficulties, we don't lose our connection to you. In fact, it grows stronger, because you're right there with us, holding us and loving us. Help us to exhibit now joy and love and peace, and help us next week as we study the next fruit of the Spirit.

Until then, let us always have peace. In Jesus' name, amen. God bless.