Blake Allen, Student and Outreach Minister, LHBC
John 14:27
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.
When asked the question, “what do you desire most in the world,” a majority of Americans responded with the word “peace.” “I want peace in my marriage. “I want peace at my workplace.” Or, “I want peace in our world.” Everyone wants peace. And what’s interesting is even though we have the greatest medical, educational, and psychological institutions in the world here in America, we still haven’t found true peace. Our search for peace continues today. And that hunger for peace can only be satisfied by one source…
There is no doubt our world is broken. Turn on the news or hop on social media and you will see more negative stories than positive ones. So, what is the solution to the brokenness in our world, and even in our own lives?
Our worldly strategies for finding peace have failed us time and time again. Temporary escapism only brings us back to our broken realities. That bottle of alcohol won’t bring you peace. That drug addiction won’t fix your broken reality. That immoral relationship won’t lead you down the path of joy and peace. That porn addiction won’t fix your loneliness or bring you comfort. Entertainment can only help take our minds off our circumstances for so long. Our positive thinking mentality can only endure so much negative news. Escapism becomes a joke because our problems await our return from our vacation from reality.
Our strategies to get away from brokenness will always rangle us back in. We need a new strategy. We need another avenue that is different from what the world offers. We don’t need temporary fixes; we need a real solution. And that solution is found in a person named Jesus Christ.
In John 14, Jesus is preparing his disciples for his exit out of this world. He is preparing them for what would take place at Golgotha where he would be crucified. But before he left this world he told his disciples not to worry. Jesus said, “peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.” Don’t miss the implication. Jesus is ultimately saying the peace the world offers is insufficient. It cannot settle your hearts, fix your brokenness, correct your problem, etc. We can spend our lives trying to chase down peace with world strategies. But we will come up short every time. But the peace that Jesus offers is not like the world’s strategy for peace. The peace that Jesus offers is true peace. How could Jesus offer something found nowhere else in the world? Because He is peace itself. Peace is found in a person not a thing. He is the only true source for peace.
This does not mean we will not encounter problems as followers of Christ. But it does mean we can find peace through any circumstance we face. How did Paul find peace when being mocked, beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned for his faith, etc.? He found it through a relationship with Jesus. How did Job eventually turn his problems into praise? He found it through a conversation with God. How did Daniel find peace in the lion’s den? He found it through utter devotion to God. How did Stephen find peace in the midst of being stoned? He found it by fixing his eyes upon Jesus.
How will you find peace in your life today? Through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
How will you find peace in your marriage? Through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
How will you find peace amidst anxiety? Through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
How will you find peace in your family situation? Through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
He is our only source of true peace. His is perfect peace. He is our peace.
Will you give your life to the author of peace and find rest in Jesus today?
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, we find perfect peace through a relationship with your son. Give us the peace that only you can give and help us to follow you for the rest of our days. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
MEMORY VERSE FOR THE WEEK:
Romans 10:15
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!