Peace – Jesus’ Peace

Peace. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we lived in a world of peace? If we define peace as the absence of conflict that will never happen, especially in a time of instant communication.  A building explodes in Lebanon and we see it almost immediately.  People are murdered at a church and we see it within minutes.  A man is shot by police officers and we view the actual event.  Riots and looting, vicious attacks on peaceful people trying to protect what is theirs…it staggers the imagination.  Can there ever be peace?  The answer to that question is a resounding “Yes”!

 
Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:27 NIV).  Did you catch that? The peace that Jesus gives is different than that which the world gives.  The apostle Paul expounds on that when he said: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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 NIV). The world can only offer peace with the absence of conflict and that will never happen.  Jesus offers us peace in the midst of conflict.  He said “in every situation”!  Yes, even in riots and violence God offers us a peace that will guard our hearts and minds. 
 
But we need to make it even more personal.  While the anger and hatred does, indeed, swirl around us there are many personal conflicts that attack us.  Many parents experience an unruly child, some wives a doubting and stubborn husband, etc.  There will be conflicts in the workplace and conflicts in friendships.  Many will encounter financial difficulties, sicknesses, or personal demons of behavior.  Even in these things, no, especially in these things we can experience a peace that passes the understanding of the human mind.
 
I heard a story about a man who was an extreme “worrier”.  His friends and family were all troubled by how worried he was about almost every facet of life.  Then, he seemed to change overnight.  This, too, was noticeable and one of his friends asked him about his obvious change.  He told him that he had hired a man to worry for him! His friend found that interesting and asked him how much he paid that person.  “I pay him a million dollars a year,” The man replied.  “A million dollars?” exclaimed his friend. “You can’t afford to pay anyone a million dollars!”  “Well,” said the man with a smile, “That’s for him to worry about”.
 
Seriously, Jesus says we are to cast our cares on Him.  We are to turn things over to Him.  That results in a “peace that passes understanding”.  The peace that Jesus alone can give.
 

Bro. Tony