Life Under Peace (part 2)
One of the ways Isaiah 60 describes what life will be like under Jesus is this:
I will make your overseers peace and your taskmasters righteousness. (Isa 60:17)
In our last reflection on this verse, we observed that our Overseers are the Big Bosses in our lives—this is the voice over us deciding whether we’re good or not. And our Taskmasters are like our Directors—they point us along the path toward where the Boss wants us to go.
We all have Bosses and Directors in life. And we all have those voices in our hearts too.
We hear them as standards, as judgment, as evaluation. We hear them as pressure, as the voice saying, Do more, Do better, This way not that way.
Sometimes the voices say mean things—look at yourself, how did you not know that, are you really that tired, what's wrong with you… Sometimes the voices give us encouragement—hey if you just keep working a little harder at this, for a little longer, you’ll be so happy, I promise…
Overseers and Taskmasters, Bosses and Directors—they all say the same things to us: 1) We aren’t doing enough, and 2) We aren’t doing it right.
So we work harder. But then, when we try to do more, is it enough? Not quite. Or we work with greater care. But when we try to follow their directions, is it ever right? Not quite.
Never is. Never has been. Never will be. That’s the game.
Because of sin and selfishness, weakness and the brokenness of the world, the emptiness that’s been carved into the heart of life without God in it, all things are—as the Preacher in the Old Testament said—“Meaningless! Meaningless!” (Eccl 1:2)
But—thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our LORD—there’s a new Boss in town and a new Director in our lives.
Jesus is our Savior and Lord, our Shepherd and Teacher. Who He is, what He has done, and what that means for us—this is our new reality.
For those who have been set free by Jesus, we work for Him. And it is His Spirit abiding in us who directs us on “the path of life.” (Psa 16:11) Now our Boss is “Peace,” and our Director is “Righteousness.”
First, let’s reflect on what it means to live “under the peace of Christ”?
If Peace is the name of our Big Boss, what does that mean for what is expected of us? How do you please a Boss named “Peace”?
You… enjoy… it…
Like, the one question “Peace” has for you is, “How are you liking all this peace I’ve given you?” The standard, now, under Christ, is, To what extent are you experiencing freedom, hope, and joy, thanks to the victory of Jesus?
Imagine, if “Peace” is the Boss, you won’t please the Boss by running up out of breath and describing how hard you’ve been working. That’s how you pleased the old bosses—ceaseless productivity at any cost. That’s not how you please this new boss.
I will give you rest for your soul… I leave you My peace… Do not be anxious about anything… For freedom I have set you free… whoever has entered God’s rest has rested from their works…
This new Boss wants to know to what extent we’re enjoying what He purchased for us by His blood. He is not interested in how we’re trying to pay Him back with our sweat.
We now live “under grace” with “the Peace of Christ ruling in our hearts.” (Rom 6:14-15; Col 3:15) The assessment for such a life includes questions about faith, trust, resting, waiting, relying upon, leaning on, following, abiding in.
We make “Peace” happy by appreciating it, by giving thanks, by resting in Jesus, by pushing away anxiety and insecurity in His Name, by celebrating His peace, by making use of His peace in our prayer. After all, what is prayer other than saying, God, I need You to do it! In Jesus’ Name—that’s #peacelife.
PRAYER
LORD God, we see the banner flying overhead in the Kingdom of Jesus, and it reads, “Peace!” Of the increase of His government and of His peace there will be no end. So in this world, we will have troubles, but we now also have His peace—reigning over us, abiding in us. Thank You, LORD, for giving us freely what we could never have earned.
Now we ask that You let the Peace of Christ rule in our hearts together. Give us strength to strive to enter that rest more fully—to return to You, rest in You, and know our saved-ness in You, and to listen to You, trust in You, and draw upon Your strength. Preserve us for this freedom; continually deliver us from the old ways and the old masters. That we may know Your love, and love You back with joyfulness and gladness of heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Photo by Artem Balashevsky on Unsplash