God's Peace

 What do you think of when you hear the word, “peace?” Do you think of countries without war? Or so you think of a time you had no worries like in the song, “I’ve got no deeds to do, no promises to keep - all is groovy.” We hear “peace on earth, goodwill to man,” but what does that look like?


In our John 14 passage Jesus tells the disciples he is going away, but he is leaving them in peace, “Do not be troubled - I go to prepare a place for you.” This is a passage read at many funerals assuring loved ones of heaven and being in the presence of the Lord at death. I like to say that my mother went to sleep one night and woke up in heaven.


Jesus in this passage says, “Do not be afraid. I give you the peace the world can’t give. The world advertises that you’ll be at peace if you have a built up 401K or retirement plan. But we know there are billionaires who don’t experience peace of mind. They fear losing their money and work for more and more wealth. People in countries free of war can still be stressed out worrying that another war or conflict might come.


The angels tell the shepherds, “Don’t be afraid, we bring great news.” Peace is coming in the birth of a child- a child who will be known as the Prince of Peace. What is this peace on earth they talk about. Peace comes from having a relationship with God, but due to our sinful natures, we are separated from God. But baby Jesus will be the bridge between God and people. By dying on the cross in our place we are saved from the sins that keep us from God. In this way Jesus brought redemption to us so that we can be at peace with God and as Jesus promised in John 14, we will be with him in heaven one day in God’s true kingdom of peace.


Meanwhile we can have peace of mind by turning over our cares and worries to God, knowing God will provide. There have been some very strong Christians who have this true peace even when the check is short and the rent is due, or when a loved one is sick. They have the peace that God is in control and will provide.


May we have this peace God can bring us in this new year.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Setting Your Hope in God

 Disclaimer: Paul talks about the Rapture in this passage a concept I still struggle with. I believe that once you die you go direct to the Lord, so bodies awaiting till the rapture to rise is hard for me to grasp. I can see how Paul was comforting the Thessalonians here but was his concept correct? Add any comments you wish to this bafflement of mine. That said, I wrote this per the text. What do you all think? Psalms 78:1-7; I Thessalonians 4:13-18   The psalmist in Psalms 78 is not only telling his current audience to listen to his teaching but to pass it on from one generation to the next. Just like he has heard it from his ancestors, he asks the Israelites to teach them to the coming generations. They are to teach them to the children yet unborn so that these children will teach their children. Why? So, they should set their hope in God, not forgetting God’s works. Fast forward to the New Testament where Paul is passing on this hope to the Thessalonians. The question these bel
Read more

Do What they Teach, Not What they Do

  Matthew 23: 1-12; I Thessalonians 2:9-13   Jesus when he talks about the scribes and the Pharisees in Matthew 23 basically says: “Do what they teach but not what they do.” What he questions most is their motivation. They do what they do to be seen by others. They wear fancy robes and love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues. They love to be greeted with respect. All this Jesus sums up in the word pride or not being humble. He states then that those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Years later Paul writes to the Thessalonians telling how he did what Christ had instructed. That he was humble leading a life worthy of God, his motivation being for God’s glory not his own. He tells that not only are the Thessalonians his witnesses of this but God also. They have seen how pure, upright, and blameless his conduct has been. He encourages the Thessalonians to do the same. To live a life worthy of
Read more

Join Me on a Lenten Journey

For those of you not familiar with Lent, it is a season of forty days, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, which means "spring." The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry. Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. Today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others. Easter comes early this year. Many of us not brought up in this tradition can still embrace its emphasis of focusing on the gifts Christ has brought into your lives and finding ways to share the love of Christ to others. This emphasis of love goes along well with the beginning of Lent this year, Ash Wednesday, falling on all days – Valentine’s Day. So whether or not you plan
Read more