Peace

Given the circumstances of any given day, peace can easily be lost in the chaos, fear, worry, frustration… Just the same, You can have peace – today,

if I were not sure and certain, I would not invest my time or waste yours.

A fair question- Where are we to find peace?

Shalom, Hebrew salutation meaning peace, … to be complete, to be whole

Remember the jingle, I would like to buy the world a Coke… peace and harmony,

If only we could buy a soda and have peace

Mom’s everywhere want peace and ---- quiet!

We can say peace, sing about peace, want peace -

Still the question remains - Where are we to find peace?

Here is where we will begin. The disciples are gathered in the upper room behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. Look in your Bible.

John 20v 19- 23

Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you."…

So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you!

Luke 24v 36- 39

Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." But they were terrified and frightened, …

Open your Bible, Peace to you comes before:

- The commission of the disciples

- The promise of the Holy Spirit

- The explanation of the scriptures

The Risen Christ begins with peace - Peace first.

It is easy to deceive ourselves into thinking that we will find peace when we have worked through our list, even if our list is a good list, it will not come to peace. We tell ourselves we will find peace when we have sufficiently worked in the commission, received the Holy Spirit, understand the Bible, or any such endeavor. Yet God Himself introduces the commission, the promise and understanding under the premise of peace.

What do think you might have to accomplish before you can feel, know and carry peace? Before you make a long list – come back to God’s pattern, begin in peace.

Remember, Jesus comes to Jerusalem, the celebration of Passover, multitude of disciples are rejoicing and praising God, and Jesus saw Jerusalem and wept …

Luke 19:42-

… "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

What things, are hidden from our eyes, what things make for our peace?

What things are hidden?

I can not be sure and certain of this point, just the same, the very next paragraph, Jesus began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, then His authority is questioned, then questions of religious legalism…

Is it possible, in my life… that greed, issues of authority, religious legalism hide from my eyes the things that make for my peace?

Can I be so distracted by financial responsibilities, being in charge and the religious rules, that the things that make for my peace are hidden from my eyes?

Now we have cleared the way, what does God have to say about finding peace?

Issue of Heart.

Jesus is with His disciples, after the Passover meal…

John 14v 25-

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

! God’s peace is a gift.

God’s peace is an issue of heart –

Do not let your heart be troubled…

Do not let your heart be afraid.

God’s peace is a gift we can feel, an issue of the heart.

Peace is not an academic, social, economic, physical achievement, simple enough- a gift, nothing you can do to earn, deserve or demand.

Albeit, a gift that you must accept.

Do not be confused here, the gift of peace accepted, will not remove from life all tribulation. Turn the page…

Same conversation with His disciples, Jesus tells us …

John 16v 33

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

God’s peace and tribulation are not mutually exclusive, there are days we will have both, and that is a good thing, to find God’s peace even in middle of our own daily struggles.

Remember the disciples in the boat, Jesus asleep in the stern, a great wind storm, waves beat the boat, water filling the boat, they wake up Jesus.

Do you not care that we are perishing?

His response to His disciples, Peace, be still. Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith. The wind ceased there was a great calm.

There may well be storms that rock your boat, you may well question if God cares that you are perishing… would He not share with us the same, - Peace, be still.