I began with the title PEACE and quickly remembered that I have written something called Peace before. A quick search reminded me that it was on March 18 of this year. It was good for me to revisit that post. I invite you to do the same.
Perfect. I’ll add Perfect.
One of the items that I carried on my person last week as we moved from one Ohio county to another, something that I did not want to have to search through boxes for, was a little devotional book that Dave, Kyle and I have been reading together. Last night’s entry regarding the account in Matthew 9 of two blind men being given sight by Jesus ended with this question,
Is there something in your life, like the healed blind men, that can only be explained by Jesus?
Yes, there is, I said. It’s peace. I know without a doubt that without Jesus, I would have turmoil and confusion rather than peace. I would have fear and anxiety rather than peace. Please don’t misunderstand. There are still times of stress and there are still moments of unrest within my mind. But the peace of Christ is bigger than those situations and those doubts. His peace is perfect.
You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3
When we moved from one Ohio County to another in 2005, I completed an on-line Bible study called Living Beyond Yourself. In it, Beth Moore addressed the Fruit of the Spirit described by Paul in Galations 5, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” She assigned a verb to each of this words, stating that Peace rules.
So what does that look like in my life? Does it hold up when I need to move away from a church and neighborhood full of friends? How about when God answers a prayer for a specific house showing to result in a purchase, and then the buyer backs out of the contract? Does peace rule even though I have not received the kind of instantaneous healing that the blind men were given, or even the gradual healing that I had hoped to have by my 60th birthday now passed?
Yes, it does. Trusting in Jesus brings peace. Having an attitude of gratitude for each day’s blessings brings peace. Remembering God’s faithfulness in the past brings peace. Knowing that death has no hold on me because it could not hold Jesus brings peace. Entrusting each day to the Holy Spirit brings peace.
Refusing to be content brings dissatisfaction. Worrying about the future brings fear. Choosing to criticize myself brings defeat. Blaming other people brings anger. Refusing to be still results in physical and emotional fatigue. But Jesus says,
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
Unrest is the opposite of peace. Those who respond to Jesus’ invitation receive rest. Perfect peace.
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.
John 14:27
