In John 14:27, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” He was speaking of the Holy Spirit who was soon to come. He sent the Holy Spirit as the comforter so we could have peace even in the midst of stress, strain, irritation or uncertainty. In the world you shall have tribulation (we live in a fallen world where there will be persecution), but be of Good Cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
Peace is the result of resting in God. Rest is what restores our physical bodies, and peace is what restores our spirits. Rest and Peace are often foreign to us. Busy is what we’re all too good at. Rest is what we need to be good at! My good friend once said, Busy isn’t of the devil, it is the devil! Often when I ask someone how they are, their answer is “busy”. Wouldn’t it be great to answer that question with – peaceful, tranquil, and totally rested. For believers, we should live there! Life shouldn’t be a busy irritation, it should be peaceful, rest-filled, and restoring to our souls.
How do we get there in the midst of the daily hassles we must deal with? Peace comes when we choose love over hate, joy over frustration, patience over irritability, kindness over meanness, goodness over revenge, faithfulness over manipulation, gentleness over harshness, and self-control over indulgence. Peace is the result! The other fruit surround the fruit of peace so perfectly. Peace is what we want in our homes, for our communities, for our nation and for the world. It can start with your response the next time you have the opportunity to operate in the fruit or in the flesh! Choose fruit over flesh!
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you.
#21 The Mayan calendar ends with this day 12/21/12. With all the stress the world is under, isn’t it good to rest in the peace of God, knowing that our lives are in God’s hands. Talk about that with your family at the dinner table, and then have a party! Have a fun night of games with your family, and then plan to buy a new game tomorrow to give on Christmas day that you will give your family on Christmas day. Spend Christmas afternoon playing your new game.