Good Morning Mighty men of God.....The Gospel of John starts with Jesus saying, "Let not your heart be troubled..." As we consider the activities and events around us that may not be so easy at times..... and if we do not protect our "hearts" from focusing too much on these events it can be a slippery slope. Not sure if you can relate? Whether it's COVID.... vaccinations.... masks.... work from home.... caring for loved ones.... we are just coming out of a 2 year season of "trouble"....and now Russia..... Jesus was right.... don't worry about tomorrow, there's plenty of "trouble" to deal with today alone. To think I paid over $4 a gallon for gas yesterday.... What happened to the $3.07 just a couple of months ago? Jesus also said something else (same chapter).... "Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]" (John 14:27 AMP) I do not think Jesus was offering a different "peace" than that we hope for and seek. You know, that mental calmness of the soul where everything is okay, everything is under control. I do believe the peace is a deeper, more complete peace being offered for it is not conditional on the "world" happenings. Maybe that is what makes it different. But I think, just as all of God's characteristics, it is the personage of Christ that IS our Peace. He IS peace. It is the peace of knowing Him and being known by Him. It is the confidence in Him that He can and will keep me, care for me, provide for me, protect me that I stand IN His peace. As my blessed friend Joe Avolese always says, " if God is for us, who can be against us." (I think he got that out of the Bible). That is the peace Jesus refers to. Want peace?...... seek the peace giver..... Jehovah Shalom.
Strength and Honor, but Only for His Glory
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