"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27
When Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, what did he mean that the peace he gives is 'not as the world gives'? It would seem that it is possible for the world to give us peace. I thought, "Then, how does the world give peace? Well, I know that medicating fears and stress is very common......through alcohol, drugs, food (my favorite :), shopping, etc. It can be helpful to close our eyes and relax and focus on a field of daisies and fluffy clouds til peace comes.........don't knock it til you try it folks!
In the context of our verse, Jesus was leaving his disciples and going away to heaven and they were afraid for their very lives. But Jesus assured them that he was going to prepare a place for them where they would be with him eternally. Thinking about a field of daisies and meditating on fluffy white clouds, when their very lives were at stake would not have cut it for the disciples. And they didn't seem to be inclined to medicate their fears and anxieties...........or maybe there was nothing available to them to do that with and I am sure they needed their wits about them to keep safe.
Well friends, none of us are going to get out of this world alive and all of us have or will have in the future fearful and stressful circumstances in our lives. And let's not forget the many in our world who are fearing for their very lives every moment of the day. A field of daises and fluffy clouds isn't going to be enough to bring peace for any of us. And there isn't enough medication to bring us peace...........only numbness and denial.
But Jesus gives peace that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:6,7) and with the peace of Christ ruling in our hearts, we can heed our Saviour's words to 'let not our heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid'.
Thank you Lord Jesus for your peace that passes all understanding. Amen
I googled HOW DOES THE WORLD FIND PEACE OF MIND and found this great article! Check it outPEACE OF MIND IN AN UNSTABLE WORLD
When Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, what did he mean that the peace he gives is 'not as the world gives'? It would seem that it is possible for the world to give us peace. I thought, "Then, how does the world give peace? Well, I know that medicating fears and stress is very common......through alcohol, drugs, food (my favorite :), shopping, etc. It can be helpful to close our eyes and relax and focus on a field of daisies and fluffy clouds til peace comes.........don't knock it til you try it folks!
In the context of our verse, Jesus was leaving his disciples and going away to heaven and they were afraid for their very lives. But Jesus assured them that he was going to prepare a place for them where they would be with him eternally. Thinking about a field of daisies and meditating on fluffy white clouds, when their very lives were at stake would not have cut it for the disciples. And they didn't seem to be inclined to medicate their fears and anxieties...........or maybe there was nothing available to them to do that with and I am sure they needed their wits about them to keep safe.
Well friends, none of us are going to get out of this world alive and all of us have or will have in the future fearful and stressful circumstances in our lives. And let's not forget the many in our world who are fearing for their very lives every moment of the day. A field of daises and fluffy clouds isn't going to be enough to bring peace for any of us. And there isn't enough medication to bring us peace...........only numbness and denial.
But Jesus gives peace that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:6,7) and with the peace of Christ ruling in our hearts, we can heed our Saviour's words to 'let not our heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid'.
Thank you Lord Jesus for your peace that passes all understanding. Amen
I googled HOW DOES THE WORLD FIND PEACE OF MIND and found this great article! Check it outPEACE OF MIND IN AN UNSTABLE WORLD
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