Morning Message Text: John 14: 25-31
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you.
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
27 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.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.
30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me,
31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave.
Morning Message:
Today, and hopefully during the days of this week, we will spend some time focusing on Peace. As soon as I say that, most of us think of world peace and in these trying times our minds start to think about the lack of peace all around us. This is all true, and we can’t easily dismiss the terrible things that are happening in this world. There are many aspects of peace that we will consider today, but I would like to start with a solution to our inner turmoil. Psalm 4: 8 says, “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Bringing a product to market represents a huge financial investment. Based on the number of sleep aid medicines and supplements on the market, it would appear that a lot of people aren’t getting enough sleep! Those products wouldn’t exist if the world was sleeping soundly at night. Now don’t get me wrong. I am not opposed to taking whatever you need to get the sleep you need. I am an advocate of doing whatever you need to do to get relief. When I am in pain, I am not at all squeamish about taking pain pills, and I can only imagine that if I was having trouble sleeping, I would look for relief.
There are many reasons why people may struggle to sleep. Sometimes it may take a pill or some other form of medication, but sometimes it could be a lack of peace. The psalmist King David pointed out something we know all too well. There is a big difference between going to bed and going to sleep. Everybody goes to bed at night, but not everyone goes to sleep. But David did both. “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep.” Why was he able to sleep in peace? Because he trusted in God. “You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” He wrote those words during a period of unnamed trouble in his life—something everyone can identify with. But instead of being angry, he silenced his heart and went to sleep in peace. We all need to examine this in our lives. Do we go to bed, or do we both go to bed and go to sleep in peace? If our concerns and a lack of peace is causing us to lose sleep, we need to learn to commit our concerns to God and rest in him.
In our devotional today we read this verse, John 14: 27. “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.” In the last 3000 years how many times has there been peace over all the world? Anyone? According to some historians, there has been peace over all the world only four times in the last 3000 years. From your devotional: “Upsetting as that sounds, it doesn’t surprise me. I remember the words of the prophet Jeremiah when he proclaimed disaster for Jerusalem: “They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, “Peace, Peace,” when there is no peace.” We all want peace, don’t we? People say, “Can’t we all get along?” So why can’t we? The apostle James wrote, “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” But that is easier said than done. Listen to the questions and observations of the writer of this devotional. “Have we given up on peace too soon? Perhaps. But maybe what we need to do right now, is draw closer to the cross of Jesus to find that in Him, peace has been here all along.
What is the context of Christ’s peace? Faithfully believing that He is the Son of God. God has made my job so easy this week. This simple little Lenten devotional has so much in it on this subject; it’s like God just opened it up to me and said, “Use this and challenge them to read it.” The next four days’ readings talk about the aspects of Christian peace. Tomorrow’s verse, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5: 1. I can’t use all of this; I have to leave something for you to read. Listen! I’ve seen the signs. “No Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, know peace.” I like that. I also like what I heard a preacher say once. “If Jesus is not real, nothing matters. If Jesus is real, nothing else matters.” This is the context that matters in every life. Is Jesus real to you? Do you faithfully believe that He is the Son of God?
Confidence of His peace: This Thursday’s verse: “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord.” So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. If you read this verse and read the devotion for Thursday, you will surely find some peace through this confident statement. The Father in this story tells his son, who is in tears, and worried about him, “Don’t worry. If I die, I’ll be with Jesus, and if I live, he’ll be with me.” Confidence gives you peace.
Contrast of His peace: Unlike the worldly version, Christ’s peace does not involve any fear. Tuesday’s devotional reading: NO WORRIES: Philippians 4: 11, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” The writer says, “I have a friend who worries about everything. In fact, at times he tells me, ‘If I don’t have something to worry about, I worry until I have something to worry about.’” You cannot have peace if you are constantly weighed down with fear and worry. The peace that Jesus gives us should alleviate our fears.
Condition of His peace: Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
Without these events, true peace would not be possible. Do you know what the Hebrew word for peace is? Shalom. Wednesday’s devotion reminds us of this.
Numbers 6: 24-26: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” This blessing from the Old Testament is fulfilled in the person of Jesus. We have peace with God, and He can look upon us and shine down on us because the curse of sin is removed from us by Jesus. Hear this prayer for all of us today. Dear Lord Jesus, grant me your Spirit that I may truly be an instrument of your peace. Amen. We, all of us, the church, the body of Christ, have the power to be instruments of peace in this world. Don’t just pray for peace, be peace to this hurting world.
In Christ’s Love and Peace,
Pastor Bob
Visits: 0
