Devotion: Term 2, Week 9
Jesus said His peace is a gift. That means you don’t have to work for it and you cannot earn it. You cannot psych yourself up for it, and you cannot try really hard to obtain it.
No, it’s a gift you must accept by faith. Jesus also said that His peace is unique from what the world provides. In the last 3,500 years, the world has only been free of war for 286 of them—that’s less than 9 per cent. This world’s peace doesn’t last.
Jesus told His disciples, ‘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.’ (John 14:27 RSV). He spoke those words just before He went to the cross.
So, God’s peace is not regulated by circumstances—it’s an ‘inside job’. Have you ever heard someone say, ‘I need to get away’? This is sometimes known as a geographical cure. You think if you leave where you are and go somewhere else, you will have peace. But it doesn’t work, for wherever you go, you take yourself with you.
Have you ever been so tired that your body collapsed into bed, but your mind wouldn’t turn off? Well, you can get away and find peace! How? Jesus gives us the solution: ‘“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”’ (John 16:33 ESV). Where can you find peace? Jesus said, ‘In me!’ Today, spend time with Him.
SoulFood: Matt 5:3 Luke 18:9-14 Isa 57:14-21 2 Sam 7:18-29
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2024
How to have peace (2)
Our Year 10 students had the opportunity yesterday to hear from Shane Yarrow, who shared his personal story of being separated from his mother through forced adoption in Australia.
Faced with an enemy he couldn’t conquer on his own, King Asa prayed, ‘… “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.” The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. …’ (2 Chronicles 14:11-12 NIV).
Persistence, determination, commitment, and recognising the ‘right time to throw away’ are all commendable qualities, whether it’s setting aside time to pray and read every day, eating dinner with your family, finding a better job, or losing weight, etc.
