October 30
John 13:31-38; Mark 14:27-31; Matthew 26:31-35; Luke 22:31-38; John 14:1-15:17
Peace! Don't we all desire this? The world offers you peace by changing your circumstances. This peace is conditional and can change from day to day and from minute to minute. The world's peace is dependent on what others can do to make your existence better. It is fleeting at best. Thus, worldly peace is akin to happiness which is based on circumstances. But this is what most seek, and this is why the masses are living unhappy lives, with no lasting peace. They are waiting for that election, for that program, that vacation, that raise, that cure, etc. Jesus offers something completely different, peace independent of your circumstances. He offers peace in the midst of trials. He offers peace despite what the condition of the world looks like. He never promised to remove your trials, but He offers to be with you through them. So, again, which peace is it that you are truly seeking?
We read in John 14:1-3, " “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." You can almost hear the calmness in His voice and feel His arm around your shoulder as He offers a calmness in the midst of your trials. He tells us that this peace is exclusive, and can only come through Him, as we read in 14:6, "Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." Jesus then explains to His disciples that though He was going, He would be sending the Holy Spirit. So despite a dramatic change in their circumstances, one thing that would not change is their ability to experience peace, as we read in 14:27, " “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." We also read in 15:4-5, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." Our fruit is described in Galatians 5:22-23. These are the fruits of the Spirit, of which peace is among them.
Jesus modeled peace in the midst of trials, as we read in Hebrews 12:2, " We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne." So, He says in 15:11, " I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!" The choice is yours. You can follow the Prince of Peace and experience the peace which transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7), or you can follow the other voices, false prophets that the world puts forth as having the answers, as we read in Jeremiah 8:11, "They offer superficial treatments for my people’s mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when there is no peace." As children of God, may we abide in Christ, for peace is found in Him and him alone. Peace despite our circumstances.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: