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The natural result of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your heart and mind as a Christian is certain unmistakable and noticeable results in your attitude, feelings, and outlook on life in general. These natural results are often referred to as “the fruit of the Spirit,” based upon God’s Word to us in Galatians 5:22–23: “… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Let’s focus on just one of these “fruits of the Spirit" — peace. This peace does not mean that you will never have problems and troubles in life. In fact, it seems as though some Christians have more trials and tragedies to bear than the vast majority of those who are non-Christians. Instead, this peace comes from outside of us and is not dependent upon what is or is not happening externally in our lives. Even in the very worst times in your life, you have this peace.
This peace comes from the fact that the ultimate need that we all have — peace with God — has been given to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His blood, shed for all on the cross, brings eternal peace with God. That is why Christ can say, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).
Through the work of Christ on the cross for you and through the work of the Holy Spirit in your Baptism, you have peace with God and He is at peace with you! There is no longer any reason to fear death and standing before this same gracious and compassionate God on the final day when Christ returns. There is no longer any reason to have fear or anxiety concerning your family members and friends who have lived and died in Christ.
Paul promises that this peace (“the peace of God”) will stand as a sentinel, or a guard, for your heart and your mind. May this promise that Paul provides to the Christians in Philippi be an everyday reality in your life: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
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