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We have been exploring what God’s Word has to say about peace and another aspect of peace is the peace of obedience.
Proverbs 3:1-2 says, “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.”
King Solomon’s words of wisdom are a discerning guide for us to follow in our own lives. When Solomon says “my teaching” and “my commandments” he is not talking about his own personal decrees. He is pointing to God’s Word that he made personal by following. And remembering God’s laws are more than a mental exercise; it is connected to a life of obedience, internalizing them and living them out daily.
When you walk in step with God’s Word you will experience union with him, and this obedience adds peace to your life. Sometimes we can be tempted to look at God’s Word as a burden or list of “to do’s” but that is not the sentiment. God’s Word is not a list of rules; they are an invitation to an intimate relationship with Jesus. Jesus came so that you would have a rich and satisfying life and this can only be found in him. When you abide in Jesus and obey God’s Word you will be as Psalm 1 says like a tree planted by streams of living water bearing fruit in your life.
A lack of obedience in your life, sin, leads to death. It looks tempting at the time but as proverbs 14:12 says, “You can rationalize it all you want and justify the path of error you have chosen, but you’ll find out in the end that you took the road to destruction.”
We’ve all been there. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). And praise God for Jesus who covers our sin and for His Holy Spirit that leads us (Psalm 143:10).
Psalm 32 gives us a glimpse into the power of confession as King David prays to the Lord. The Psalm itself does not tell us the specific occasion in David’s life which prompted this song but from his words we can surmise that he had strayed from obeying God when he says, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:3-5).
Sin robs your peace; confession restores it as you receive the forgiveness of Jesus. Shame will never transform you, the love of Jesus will. Obedience leads to peace.
As we wrap up today receive this blessing from 2 Thessalonians 3:16. “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way.”
