OURS FOR THE TAKING

Peace I leave with you,
My peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I
unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27

It wasn't until the '60s that I recall people making a V sign with their first two fingers. Many said that it stood for victory. However about that time, it also became a peace sign. I can still recall seeing hippies in the streets of large cities with their riots and sit-ins, many making that sign and yelling, “Peace.” Looking at the setting, it was beyond me how they came up with the word “peace” in the middle of all of the confusion and wrong doing.

Our country is always trying to broker or mediate peace between countries who are at war with one another. Peace treaties can be signed until Jesus comes, but the simple fact is that without Jesus, there can be absolutely no peace between nations. The same is almost impossible even between individuals. True peace can only be made between those who know and love Jesus.

The above verse was brought to my attention a few months ago and saw it in a totally new light. In John 14-17 there are so many precious promises. Jesus spoke in these chapters His last lengthy discourse prior to His going to the cross. Jesus had eaten the Passover meal with His twelve disciples. Just prior to His sharing His last thoughts with them at some length, Judas had been dismissed by Jesus to go and complete the dastardly plan he was a part of in the betrayal of Jesus. That plan and betrayer was spoken of in the Old Testament so it had to be a part of whole scenario.

I've often viewed these chapters as Spiritual Growth 101. What a blessing...so much to absorb...so much to apply IF we want to be everything for God He expects of us. These chapters are chocked full of spiritual sustenance for you and me to partake of. I have loved Jesus' precious promise of peace. If we aren't people of peace, it isn't Jesus' fault. He told us to not allow ourselves to be troubled. Jesus wasn't specific as to what types of trouble. His comment was all encompassing. The only way peace can be accomplished is if we as Christians are people of peace ourselves. Jesus was clear in making His peace available to each of us. It's a peace that takes care of inner turmoil that can so easily keep us upset.

We will not have a country of peace until we have a people of peace. Jesus knew that His peace was the only peace possible. He knew that the world has it's way of providing peace that has failed over and over. Our peace won't come from pills, alcohol, money, fancy clothes, cars, mansions or popularity. All of those things will fail. Only Jesus can give true peace and it's ours for the taking. I can understand unsaved individuals not being people of peace. They don't know where to get it or from Whom. We Christians have no excuse.

I noticed a few months ago, something unusual about the opening of Paul's epistles.. Very quickly into the first chapters of his epistles, Paul gives a special greeting that can be found consistently in his writings. He will usually say, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father....” Sometimes he puts “mercy” in the middle of the two words but his greetings always include “Grace and Peace.” By the way, they are always in that order...never “Peace and Grace.” It wasn't too hard coming up with the reason for the order of those two words. Without the grace of God, there can be no peace. With the grace of salvation in our lives, we are then equipped to be people of peace. This is the main reason for the failure of peace treaties between people or countries. Peace is of God. If unsaved people are trying to broker a peace treaty for their countries, it won't be a lasting peace, only a cease fire for a time.

We are living in a divided country politically, financially and philosophically. However, none of the three is our major problem right now. We are a country in need of God. He is the only One who can bring us together as we follow His will. Until folks accept Jesus as Savior and Christians determine to walk in obedience to God's Word, we will be a fractured society. Jesus is the answer, yes, the only answer...He is our peace.

Help us Father to be people of peace. With Your Son's peace there should be fewer conflicts, arguments, and misunderstandings in our lives. Help us to be people of peace first within ourselves and then hopefully others will see that peace of Jesus in us. In Jesus' precious name...Amen