Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace…

2 Peter 3:14

When I was growing up — one of the things that I could look forward to every summer (in addition to freedom from school, lazing around watching re-runs on T.V. and sticking my head in the freezer to stay cool) — was chores.

Every morning – like manna from heaven, a list would be left for me on the kitchen table of everything that needed to be done for the day. And the expectation was that everything indeed would be done by the end of the day when my parents returned.

This gets me thinking — what is Jesus looking for in His people when He returns?

In 2 Peter, Peter describes the Day of the Lord and the end of all things.
And here in chapter 3 — he tells us what Jesus is looking for when He returns.

Jesus — the Prince of Peace, is looking to find a people marked by peace when He returns.

Why is that? Why of all things — Is Jesus looking for His people to be found in, or marked by peace?

Our world — is marked by the absence of peace.

At this moment — there is war, the threat of famine in the poorest nations, political unrest, economic uncertainty, widespread infectious diseases — and a generation, like none ever before, marked by anxiety, fear, outrage and anger.

The people of God though — are to be people of peace.

Not only are we to be peaceable (Titus 3:2) and live peaceably with others (Romans 12:18) – we are to be a people characterized by peace.

That word peace means simply to “be joined“. Joined with what? With Christ — the Prince of Peace. Galatians 2:20 declares that is is “…no longer I who live — but Christ who lives in me.” Because I am joined with Christ — I can have perfect peace.

Isaiah 26:3 puts it this way:

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.

When my mind is focused on Christ, and I put my trust in Him — I don’t have to live a life full of anxiety, fear, anger — because I trust Him. And His life, and His peace — infuses into mine.

Galatians 5 tells us that the fruit of, the work of the Spirit in the life of a Christian is peace.
If you are joined to Christ, and you trust in Him — the Spirit will be working peace deep into your heart as you fix your mind on Him.

What about you?

Are you marked by fear, anger, outrage, anxiety — or are you marked by the peace of Christ?
If He returned today, how would He find you?

May you put your trust and hope in Him — leaning on Him, and leaning into His peace this week — and may the peace of God, rule in your heart today.