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Harbor of Shalom

Writer's picture: Bruce SampsonBruce Sampson


Spiritual Training Cycle: Foundation (wk. 5/13)

 

Is there a place where you go to find peace in your life? For many, the gym serves as a kind of "third place"—a neutral space where people gather to escape life's pressures. CrossFit athletes often find the gym to be where they push limits, bond with others, and find a sense of accomplishment. It's a sanctuary of sorts, offering a reprieve from stress and a sense of community.

 

Ray Oldenburg, in The Great Good Place (1989), describes the “third place” as a location where people find belonging. While the gym offers connection and temporary relief, it cannot provide the ultimate peace that the soul craves. For Christians, the Church is not just another “third place.” It is the place—the place where true, lasting peace is found, the peace of Christ that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

 

The Church is not merely for social events, childcare, or conferences. It is where believers come together to encounter God, experience His peace, and be reminded of the gospel. This peace, or shalom, is more than temporary relief, it is the restoration of all things under the lordship of Christ, and it is only in the community of believers that this peace is fully realized.

 

In Psalm 122, King David expresses joy at the invitation to worship in the house of the Lord: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (Psalm 122:1). At the time, Jerusalem housed the tabernacle, where God's presence was uniquely felt. David established Jerusalem as a place of unity for all of Israel, symbolizing a gathering of God's people in worship. This vision of unity in Christ is what the Church is called to embody today.

 

For many of us, David’s vision of unity can feel distant. We see the fractures within the Church and may even struggle with conflicts. Sometimes, gathering with others feels more burdensome than comforting. But the Church is meant to be a place of communal peace, not individual expression. The Apostle Paul urges us to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

 

The peace we experience in the Church is not based on our own efforts but is a gift, secured by Christ. Just as Jerusalem, once a city of division, was redeemed for God’s purposes, so our hearts—once ruled by sin—are set apart for God through the blood of Christ. This peace binds us together as the body of Christ.

 

Just as the tabernacle was the dwelling place of God’s presence, our hearts are now temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The peace we find in the Church is not fleeting, like the temporary relief found in the gym, but is a lasting peace that heals, unites, and sends us out as agents of reconciliation.

 

While the gym offers physical strength and fellowship, the Church offers spiritual strength and unity in Christ. The Church is a harbor of shalom, where God’s peace reconciles us to Himself and to one another. As Spurgeon said, “Let us as much as possible sink the tribal individuality in the national unity, so that the church may be many waves, but one sea; many branches, but one tree; many members, but one body.”

 

We see this peace in the Church when believers learn to forgive one another, bear each other’s burdens, and unite in the mission of making disciples of all people groups around the world. It’s evident in the way we support each other in times of difficulty, celebrate each other’s victories, and offer hospitality to those who are in need. 

 

But the peace of Christ doesn't just stay within a building of believers. We are called to extend it beyond the walls of our gatherings, especially to the places we frequent, like the gym. We can be agents of peace in our gyms by displaying patience, kindness, and a willingness to serve others. We can encourage our gym communities with the hope and peace we find in Christ, creating a space where others see the gospel at work in our lives. Whether through small acts of kindness, words of encouragement, or simply being present for others, we can help others discover the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding.

 

Questions for Reflection:

When you hear the phrase “harbor of shalom,” what ideas or images come to mind?

 

How can you bring peace to your communities?

 

Who else in your life brings you peace?

 

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