I meet many people in my travels who don’t have a sense of peace and calm. They’re stressed, frustrated, confused by life and taught in church all the things they have to do to keep God happy and on their side.
I once heard someone say, “Where does the list of “doing things right” end? I can’t keep the first rules expected of me—never mind the whole list.”
If that’s where you are today, I have GOOD NEWS for you—Jesus fulfilled the to-do list and did everything that was needed. He died and was resurrected, establishing a new covenant between Him and God the Father. So, you don’t have to do or keep the list. You just have to accept that He finished the job and created a life for you to enjoy. You have been given everything for life and godliness, and NOTHING WAS LEFT OUT!
When I say the “finished work of Christ,” I mean everything God accomplished through Christ on the cross for ALL men for ALL time through God’s grace, mercy, love and goodness.
WHAT IS PEACE?
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. —Luke 2:13-14 KJV
This is Good News—the Good News of Jesus Christ and peace “toward” man from God the Father.
The general definition of peace is rest, contentment, harmony, freedom from molestation, quietness. The Hebrew is wholeness.
The essence of the Good News is that it brings peace. It reveals and reinforces that there is peace between you and God. Without peace, the promises cannot become a reality.
For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes [answer] in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God. —2 Corinthians 1:20 (AMPC)
There is no room for worry and fear when you understand your peace with God. Continually worrying about doing enough so God will help you or you’ll be happy is fear and certainly not peace.
We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; his perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what he might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what he might do to us and shows that we are not fully convinced that he really loves us. So you see, our love for him comes as a result of his loving us first. —1 John 4:18-19 (TLB)
You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that peace is a vital necessity for life! The biggest gift you can give yourself is to believe there is peace between you and God and allow Him to direct your life.
Peace is one of the most elusive emotions. We all seek it but never seem to find it. Something always tries to rob us of our peace and contentment. To most people, peace means all problems cease and everything goes smoothly. But problems are a part of life, and we all have our share.
Worldly peace is totally dependent on circumstances, but Jesus promised us a legacy of peace.
Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] —John 14:27 (AMPC)
Jesus bequeathed us His peace. It came as a benefit of His death on the cross. We have the right to have Jesus’ peace. It’s totally dependable and predictable, a sure thing and totally independent of circumstances
Jesus’ peace is a precious thing, but we need to become persuaded of it in our hearts and not allow things around us to disturb us. If Jesus is my all, I can say, “Lord, I can’t deal with this issue. You became my peace, so I’ll trust that.” You may still have problems, but they won’t move you.
The result? You’ll be able to think straight and make correct decisions, treat people with dignity and worth, see the needs of others and not just be focused on your own.
Peace is a product of what is established in your heart about God who is greater than anything we face.
