All in Peace
Feeling the Peace of Christ is one of the most treasured and coveted aspects of the Christian faith; it is a reward for obedience and is our harvest for believing, and living our lives as Jesus instructed us. Do we have the Peace of Christ today? Do we understand the difference between the peace of the world and the Peace of Christ?
Are we at rest today? Do we feel a sense of peace in our lives? I was reading on the subject of being at peace this morning, and contemplating the answer to these two questions as they pertained to my life. I realized that as we look about us and see a world that knows very little if any peace, that it is certainly precious when we encounter such moments in our lives. When we think back on the times when we felt at peace, and were able to rest without the slightest anxious thought to disturb us, we find that one of two things were at play; either we were blissfully ignorant of the world, and our lives, or we were experiencing the true peace of Christ.
Where do we turn to find comfort, rest, and peace of mind in our lives? To regain the peace that the world works so hard to rob from us we need to find the quiet places, and times, when we can take in a deep breath from God, and exhale the foul air of strife, and stress that the dark one tries so hard to blow into our lungs. Jesus teaches us much on this subject, and if we reorder our lives we can find that selfsame peace.
The love of Christ, we can only think we know it. When we are saved, and first feel it rushing into us with such an amazing force, we are convinced that this torrential flood must be the fullness of His love, but as we grow in faith we realize that the waters slow, and the river deepens. We then get a sense of the fact that there are seas, and oceans, ahead... and we are overcome by the expanse that is His love for us, and the journey ahead.
Does the world weary you, and weigh you down? Well, it is rare to find a peaceful refuge in this place of frothing humanity, and sin, but that is exactly what Jesus offers us. Just as He stilled the waters He also settles the souls of those who believe in Him, giving them peace, and in so doing providing them rest. Are you tired and weary today, and in need of relief from the burdens of life? Then Come to Him!
How do we envision our final days? Do we see ourselves resting peacefully in our home being tended to by our families, or are we tormented by what lies ahead, and everything those final hours will bring us? Are we afraid we will die destitute, and with nowhere to call home? Whatever we anticipate, either spiritually or physically, Jesus will be at our side, and He asks us, just as He asked Peter, “Do you love me?”, and then tells us to follow Him in those days... to face death on our own cross just as He did upon His... lovingly, brave, and certain in God’s will.
Sometimes we get absorbed in the trials and tribulations of the world’s daily life, so much so that we not only miss the fullness of joy that comes with our faith, but we almost refuse to allow ourselves the slightest pleasure of it. Have you ever been so convinced of your misery, or perhaps in the fact that you are undeserving of happiness, that you won’t allow yourself to feel the inexplicable joy of faith? Well, you are meant to be joyous, meant to be filled with the glory of God, and to experience the Peace of Christ.
We are in the midst of the Christmas season, and there is a great deal of hustle and bustle that goes along with it... are you stressed? Do all of the parties, family obligations, the gift buying, wrapping gifts, and putting up of decorations wear you down to the point where you long for the season to come to an end? Well, if that is true then you, like the secular world, have lost the truth in Christmas, the coming of Jesus; the arrival of the Christ Child. He didn’t come to burden us, but to redeem us, and give us rest, peace, and joy.
Do we lead a peaceful life? Does the peace of Christ govern not only our own lives, but also influence the lives of everyone around us? We are meant to be like Jesus, and in this way we are called to be peaceful beings. Look about you today and ask yourself a few questions about living your life in faith... is my home a place of rest and peace? Do I conduct myself in a peaceful manner at all times? When I pray am I praying for peace to be the product of my every desire, or just an occasional wish?
In the world there is such rancor, turmoil, hatred, and war, but in God, and Jesus Christ we find perfect peace. Though the world is frothing, and men are arguing, and striking out at one another in evil intent, our faith brings us the hope, calm, and love, of Christ’s peace. In Jesus we can find escape from the bitterness that we see and hear swirling around us each day, and by the grace of God we are provided His Son as an escape... are you ready to break away from the insanity?
How do we live out our lives, are we bitter, and often unhappy, or does the peace and joy of Jesus flow through, and from us? As Christians we should seek Christ in each hard time that confronts us, and not allow those who would separate us from the joy of God to have dominion over us by baiting us into seeking vengeance against them, or by withholding forgiveness from them.
Where are you most secure, and where do you feel the greatest comfort and peace? We all need a refuge, and a safe place that settles us. No matter how powerful we may feel, or how protected we might think we are... there comes a time when we are uncertain, and fear creeps over our wall to invade our strongholds. This safe place is the sanctuary that no man can provide us, but in Jesus Christ we find all we need... even to the ends of the earth.
How do you pray in the time of great sorrow, or imminent death? If you, or a loved one, is facing near certain demise how do you go before God in prayer? Most often when situations are dire, and danger is near, our emotions cause us to reach a point of near panic, but as men and women of Faith is that how we should enter into the presence of God in prayer?
What does it mean when scripture tells us to rest, be quiet, and trust the Lord? How does it sit with us when it says that this is our strength, and our salvation? To us this sounds so foreign because we feel like there must be something that God would have us do. We want to be actively involved like the young David who used his sling to slay Goliath. Yet in many scriptures we are told that by just sitting in the presence of God, and waiting we will experience our greatest strength... yet we resist this.
Have you ever experienced rest in your life? I am not talking about a good night’s sleep, but an escape from all that troubles you, and total recuperation of mental, and bodily strength... a complete refreshing of Spirit and soul? Well if you have then you know what our verse this morning is talking about, but if not, then it is time to listen to Jesus and come to Him.