The World's Peace vs. Jesus' Peace

 December 12, 2024

Thursday

John 14:27 (NIV) ²⁷  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

People don't think of peace unless they have lost it. Therefore, peace is no problems or, at least, unaware of problems. This peace is fleeting. It is not theirs to possess. It belongs to circumstances. This is the peace the world gives.

Jesus gives a different kind of peace. It comes from Him rather than from circumstances. This peace will not come if it is simply put in a storeroom to be retrieved when needed. At that moment, the stored peace can't be found. 

No, this peace is one that comes when fully engaged with Christ. It is a peace for the disciple of Christ. The average Christian who calls Jesus Lord but cannot demonstrate Jesus' lordship does not know this peace. This is the peace of abiding in Him. This is the peace of hating father and mother and wife and children and even your own life. This is the peace of taking up the cross daily. This is the peace of owning nothing because it all belongs to the Lord. This is the peace of being a slave to all.

This peace is rare only because those who truly follow Christ are rare. This Christian has both feet in God's kingdom. The world cannot take anything that this Christian values because it all belongs to Christ. This Christian has all of his or her treasures stored in heaven. This Christian has received Jesus' peace.

Of course, those who look at the cost of this peace sometimes say that it is too expensive. It is like anything else that you choose to buy. Are you willing to pay the price? If not, it is, indeed, too expensive. 

Thus, trouble and fear frequently remain with those who depend upon the world's peace.