Today’s Reading: John 14:27 (NIV)
25 [Jesus said,] “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.”
Good morning!
How much would you give for a little peace today? Peace is something we humans long for. We sing about it during the Holy Days; hoping for a new world peace in the year to come; we long for sweet peace to invade our family life, hoping we can learn how to love and get along with each other, especially at the upcoming family reunion. We pray for the bitterness and strife to stop and brotherly love become the benchmark of our churches, schools, and places of employment. We hope for miraculous peace to overcome the many differences that emerge between our countries and cultures all around the world. Everyone wants a piece of peace. Tell me, what is peace to you, and how far would you go to get it?
Some folks find peace at the bank of life. They pour their money into checking and savings accounts, stocks, bonds and certificates of deposit. The bigger the balance, the better they feel. For some, financial peace is a security blanket, knowing there will be funds available to help care for their needs on a rainy day. And everyone knows the rain is just a cloud away. Is this kind of peace an everlasting gift or simply a temporary fix to a terminal issue?
Others find great peace in going with the flow, following the crowd, and blending in. Their motto may be to make no waves and do no harm. Let’s just all agree to get along, no matter what the issue. If we’re feeling convicted, be sure not to mention it because it may disrupt the peace train. The most important thing is to maintain peace at all costs. Would you sell your soul for a slice of peace pie?
Peace, for a young parent, may be an uninterrupted afternoon nap. Folks search for peaceful vacations, where they can get away from the buzz of cell phones and pagers, voice mail, email, and blackberries. Some look for a secluded space outdoors, away from the daily grind inside. I enjoy a peaceful evening curled up with a good book in my Lazy Boy® chair, all by myself, in a quiet house. Uninterrupted peace, for even a few fleeting minutes, can become a breath of fresh air.
Christ’s peace is so much more than all of this combined. We see peace in worldly ways. His peace is not of this world. We look at the wars going on around us, distracting us from addressing the wars within. When Christ’s peace comes, the fears, uncertainties, doubts and the sins that are eating us alive begin to disappear in the light of His love. His peace is so much bigger than any peace the world offers. Seek Jesus today. Peace is His free gift to you, and you need not travel any further than your knees to find it.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO
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