Peace: March 17, 2014

TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY MARCH 17, 2014.

PEACE

DEFINITION:

Freedom from strife, discord, war or civil disorder; harmony in human relationships; quiet; calm; tranquility.

SCRIPTURE:

Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

All of the restlessness of our times might be understood as an attempt by believers in Jesus to acquire the right things in the wrong way. We believe that there are essentially three things that believers want. They want righteousness, peace and joy. But because our understanding is warped by sin, our search for these things gets skewed. Today we will discuss one of these three, PEACE.

John F. Kennedy, former President of the United States said, “The absence of war is not the same thing as peace.” Even when our society has enjoyed so called peace, there is often a sense of national tension, unease, and dissatisfaction. As a people, most of the time, we are not at peace with each other nor even with ourselves. This is because we seek peace in the wrong places and in the wrong ways.

For example, many people are dissatisfied with themselves because they feel they must have more than they have. It leads them to seek money, fame, or a higher standard of living as the key to having peace of mind, yet the more they get the more they want. Some think they will have peace if they do good works and strive to be a better person.

Nothing in this world and no amount of effort on our part can bring the kind of peace we long for. True and lasting peace comes from God. Peace is God’s gift to us when we accept His free gift of salvation. Romans 5:1 says “Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

God gives us as believers, even in uncertain times, a very different and transcendent peace; the peace that passes all understanding. This is what the apostle Paul wrote to us in the book of Philippians (above verse). When your heart is troubled and you are not feeling at peace, focus on God’s promises and His great love for you.

It is not what is out there in the world that gives us peace. It is what is from out of this world, but is within us. It is Jesus Christ dwelling within us that brings peace. In Colossians 1:27 Paul describes that the peace that Jesus dwelling in us gives is the hope of glory; that we will spend eternity with Christ.

The song writer Edward Bickersteth wrote it beautifully in, “Peace, perfect peace.” He wrote two lines in every verse. The first line ends with a question mark and the second line answers the question. Read carefully his words:

•    Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin? The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.
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•    Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed? To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.
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•    Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows searching round? On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found.
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•    Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown? Jesus we know and He is on the throne.
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•    Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours? Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers
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Only the peace that Jesus gives will last for eternity. Put your focus on Him because He has the answers for all your needs. He will bring true peace into your life.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in John 14:5-6.

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through Me.”

PRAYER:

Thank You Lord for the words of Paul written to the church at Philippi that applies to me: Do not be anxious for anything and then the peace of God will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.