THE ABUNDANT PEACE
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is ...peace”
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
John 14:27 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.
Even the natural man has some peace of heart. For a while, when all goes well and plans prosper, our hearts are content and at peace. But let a gust of adverse fortune, a baffling of some favorite purpose befall us, and at once peace vanishes and anxious care broods in its place. Peace indeed we have, but its manifestation is inconstant and fickle, filling us one day with rest, leaving us the next in darkness and hopelessness. What a contrast with this is the peace which “passeth all understanding,” and – as one has said – “all misunderstanding”; a peace which keeps us, not we it; a peace of which is said, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee”; a peace which, because born not of an outer calm, but an inner Christ, cannot be disturbed by sting or storm. It is the peace of the fullness of the Spirit. The sea has a surface which tosses, and frets, foams and spumes, rises, staggers, and falls under every passing wind that assails its unstable life. But believers are not to be like the “troubled sea.” To enjoy the moveless deeps of peace is the “peace of God.” It is the peace of God that is ours to possess and to keep us. “The peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds.” Not human peace attained by self-struggle or self-discipline, but divine peace – the very peace which God Himself has, yea, is. This is why Jesus Himself says, “My peace I give unto you.” Human, man-made peace, which rises and falls with the vicissitudes of life, is worthless; but the peace of Christ, what a gift is this!
Surely a peace like this is worth having. Surely a peace which does not take flight before such hideous vision of betrayal, agony, and death is an abundant peace; is one which He can well say, “I leave it with you; it will stay; it is the God-peace which abides forever. My children, behold my hour of crisis, darker than shall ever come to any of you, yet my peace abides without tremor. My peace has stood the supreme test, therefore it can never fail; I pass it on to you.”
[Thoughts were inspired by the writing of James H. McConkey]
Today think about the “PEACE of GOD” and how wonderful is God’s peace. With God there is no frailty, no error, no sin, no blunders, no future to dread, no mistakes to fear. What is troubling you? What do you need to confess to the Lord? Do it. You need God’s peace to keep you. Ask Him to help you. Trust Him today and thank Him for His wonderful abundant gift of peace.