Peace

Peace Talks

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I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 ESV

I am old enough to remember the Paris Peace talks, which preceded the end of the Vietnam War. Those meetings gave the illusion that peace was at hand, but the reality was that, for the first week, they argued over what shape of table they were going to meet at! Then, after years of painful negotiations and millions of words exchanged, a document was signed that ensured nothing at all. Not long after the U.S. withdrawal, North Vietnam, invaded and conquered all of South Vietnam in record time. That is the way peace is in this world. But in today’s verse, Jesus assures us that He wasn’t leaving us a peace like that and thank God He didn’t! Instead, Jesus left us His peace: an amazing and eternal one. Unlike the Paris Accords, the peace Jesus gives has nothing to do with the absence of trouble, rather the presence of a power to overcome it. In fact, Jesus tells us, “In this world you will have tribulation.” There’s no doubt about it. Everyone battles for their tiny piece of turf, but when we put our faith and our lives in the hands of Jesus the battle is over, and He has already won! Now, He offers us His peace plan. The peace that Jesus gives is not false, weak or temporary, but it will last forever. But this peace of Jesus also comes to us only on the terms of unconditional surrender. Instead of trying to negotiate what kind of table we are going to sit at, we can trust Him and joyfully sit down wherever He decides. Jesus won the war for our souls when He gave His life for ours and we belong to Him. So, let’s sit down with Him, not at a negotiating table, but at a banquet table, and celebrate with the Prince of Peace and worship Him forever!

“Father, let me loose my clutch on everything temporal. My life, my reputation, my possessions, Lord, let me loose the tension of the grasping hand. Open my hand to receive the nail of Calvary, as Christ’s was opened. He thought Heaven, yea, equality with God, not a thing to be clutched at. So let me release my grasp.” – Jim Elliot

In the light of the sadness and tragedy of the ongoing wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan, it is precious breath of fresh air to hear the voices of these young people, blending together in four languages. May God bless you with His peace wherever you are this morning and may He guide your steps into His ways of peace today.

Peace on Earth?

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And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 NKJV

Here in Florida, from late Fall to late Spring we have month after month of sunny, generally warm and tranquil weather. But on the first of June, hurricane season begins. For those of us who have lived here awhile that means stocking up on batteries, water and keeping the car filled with gas. We do this, not because we live in terror, but because we know that preparedness is our best friend when a storm heads our way. In that same way God offers peace, beginning at the manger in Bethlehem

We need this peace, like the deer who the Psalmist says, is thirsting for water. What a wonderful thing here to find Paul describing God’s peace as the gift that guards our hearts and minds. Just as we prepare for hurricane conditions, so this peace does not spare us from storms but rather it prepares us for them. It is not fragile or delicate. Instead God’s peace is powerful, fearless, and able to guard anyone who dares to seek for God, like the deer seeking water, the wise men following the star and the shepherds running from their fields to see the Savior in the manger. Because of the cross this peace can be yours. It is God’s gift to everyone who believes, who receives His Son as Lord and Savior and who seeks Him with all their heart!

Are We There Yet Dad?

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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 ESV

“Are we there yet dad?” our two sons asked in unison from the back seat. In spite of the fact that before we left. we had told them that our trip would take three days, they wanted to know exactly when we would get to our destination. Most of us can chuckle, at memories like that, yet we as adults we are often asking the same questions, only in more adult sounding ways. Now we clamor to know about new laws, our preferred candidate or a more business friendly economic policy. In the midst of this hyper-combative election year, we hear the candidates from both parties calling for peace in the Middle East, climatological peace, and peace in Ukraine, just to name a few issues. But Jesus tells us that real peace is not attainable in this world. Amazingly in today’s verse, just as Jesus is about to be arrested, beaten and crucified, He promises us a peace that looks nothing like the world’s variety. His kind of peace is not a goal: it is a gift. So, this morning, whether we are facing a natural disaster, political upheaval, or war, God offers us a peace to rule in our hearts, no matter who wins the election, what happens in Israel or even in our own families. But the peace that Jesus offers means letting go of this world’s counterfeit peace, letting Him do the driving and trusting that He knows when we will get there!