"Peace I leave with you; My 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 fearful. "
John 14:27 NASB
This verse today comes courtesy of my wife and it's the words of Jesus himself. Judy sent this verse to me in regards to my running the ship hear at work for a couple of days while the rest of my family is vacationing on cruises and hanging out on the beach in Australia.
This is the great thing about God's Word. It has many applications. Maybe when you first read the verse and saw the word fear you might have jumped to tomorrow's election and fear gripped you about what might happen if the wrong person wins. Let's face it, in this world there is a lot to be fearful of.
No matter what the fear, Jesus has the answer. Peace. And notice Jesus points out that there is a difference between the heavenlies and the worldly. Wordly peace will not be the same as peace from Jesus. Jesus' peace is eternal. The world's is temporal. I think back to my childhood when someone had wronged me and if that person happened to be an adult I knew I could go to my parents and tell them the problem and immediately I would feel a sense of peace because I knew they were in charge. They had my back. And if my dad had his dander up I would be sitting there saying, "Go get 'em Dad. Give it to 'em."
That's what Jesus can provide for us. He has our back and our front. He has our hearts and our souls. He has these things if we get out of the way and keep our eyes fixed on Him and allow Him to be God. How often we get fearful because we try to take back control from Him and do things our way and in our timing.
Now this doesn't mean we don't have a part to play. It's not just sit back and say, "Oh well. God will do all the work." God wants us to be obedient to help advance the Kingdom. Isn't it much more rewarding to be part of the process and not just let someone else do all the work?
While we're waiting, while we're studying, while we're praying, while we're being obedient, God hasn't left us alone. Jesus is referring in this verse that the peace He is leaving is gift of the Holy Spirit. What a great down payment until Jesus returns.
I have seen this peace played out in my life and the lives of others. Judy and I have tremendous peace about the elections tomorrow. Regardless of who's president or what marriage may look like, I know that God is still in control and that His church is the ultimate bride. His peace has carried a friend through her marriage struggle and the uncertainty of the future. Where I know she is really hurting, she constantly tells me, "I have great peace in this, I have great peace in this."
His peace has carried another family as they are dealing with cancer and have dealt with it for five long years. The end is near and in only through the love of Jesus could He flood this family with the peace of knowing He has them in the palm of His hand.
Shalom to you all.
