Seven Fold Peace

UV 1734/10000 Seven Fold Peace
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you
John 20 v 19

The Hebrew word for peace “Shalom” is an all encompassing peace. The word that Jesus spoke to His disciples, who cowered in fear of persecution and shut themselves up in a secret location, delivered them from the paralysing fear of persecution. Shalom is a rainbow blessing based on our relationship with Jehovah through Jesus. Just as the rainbow has seven dimensions, Shalom has seven dimensions. It can be summed up in the acroustic “ SEPFFIS” implying when we speak the Peace of Jesus to a person, it blesses them in the following dimensions: Spiritual, Emotional, Physical, Familial, Financial, Intellectual and Social. Spiritual peace is peace with God through receiving forgiveness by believing that Jesus shed His blood and died for our sins and shortcomings. Whatever we lack He provides as the Good Shepherd. Emotional Peace is peace with oneself, to be freed from the chains of fear, anger, confusion, hatred, jealousy and bitterness and to be filled with joy and love. Physical peace is freedom from fear of death and disease, to be blessed with good health and to receive healing of our ailments.

Familial peace is peace in our homes and peace and love in our relationships with our kith and kin. Financial peace is to be blessed in such a way that we have enough to meet our own need as well as to give to others. Intellectual peace is to be filled with knowledge and wisdom and to be able to realize our full intellectual potential. Social peace is peace and harmony with co-workers, with neighbours, friends and our acquaintances and the world at large. When we bless people with SEPFISS Shalom, we bless them in these seven ways.

The Lord gave a sign of his covenant with Noah and the rest of mankind with a rainbow after the great global flood. It is His covenant not to harm or destroy us but to bless or prosper us in multiple dimensions of our lives. Peace is not the absence of problems or challenges. It is the presence of God in our lives. His presence guarantees this seven fold blessing on us and ours. Our covenant relationship with the Redeemer is the fountainhead of these seven fountains of blessings. Though we do not get into a personal relationship with the Lord for the sake of gain, we become heirs to many blessings or benefits. These benefits become additional sources of joy in addition to the joy of salvation. The joy further engenders hope and strength as well as an attitude of gratitude to the Lord that flows from our hearts in praise and thanksgiving.
Prateep V Philip