Skip to main content

Peace

             Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

I know a few people who are going through some tough times. I’m a little reluctant to share a comforting verse with them because too often, either the words come out as a platitude or we think we’ve done our jobs and can walk away without guilt. I’ve gone through tough times. Oh, they probably weren’t that tough in retrospect, but at the time, I had to credit my responsibilities to my father and my dog with keeping me going. So I’m trying to think about what Jesus said here in light of that experience.

The first thing that comes to mind because of today’s passage is the difference between the peace that Jesus gives and the peace that the world gives. The world tells us that there can only be peace if everything is all better. What this ends up meaning is that peace only exists when everything is as we want it.  But the peace Jesus spoke of was a peace that could get Him through crucifixion and death. It wasn’t easy or pleasant, but Jesus struggled, and He ultimately had peace based on the assurance of God’s love and plan. That sort of peace doesn’t depend on things going our way.

Another thing this verse makes clear is that we have a choice. We can either refuse to let our hearts be troubled and turn to God when things get tough, or we can let our hearts be troubled. We can either not be afraid or be afraid. Jesus tells us what we are to do. If we need help, the Holy Spirit will give it, but we must make a choice.

Recently, John Ortberg referred to something Dallas Willard taught, which is that the heart is not changed by information alone. It is changed by experience. As we struggle with troubles, the choice we make will teach our hearts to trust and have peace, or to not trust and not have peace. It’s like the old Native American story about having two wolves within us. The one that wins is the one we feed.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Virgin?

           Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)           This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)           But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”            “How will this be,” Mary asked the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Higher Thoughts

  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the  Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)           The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,   for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord      so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:15-16) If you read about the ancient gods of the various peoples, you’ll find that they think just like people. In fact, they think just like the sort of people we really wouldn’t want to be around. They think like the most corrupt Hollywood producer or, like hormone overloaded teens with no upbringing.   It’s embarrassing to read. I have a friend who argues that because God is not just like us, He is so vastly dif...
2 comments
Read more

Saved?

  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:21-23) Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:4)   What conclusion do you draw when someone who was raised in a Christian family and church, perhaps even playing a significant role in a chur...
Post a Comment
Read more