From: May 25, 2024
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27 ESV).
The peace that Jesus gives is true and real peace. It is not only a true cessation of hostility between God and man, but a real sense of well-being and serenity of soul. For Christ’s peace comes in a Person. For the peace that Jesus gives, abides in believers by the indwelling of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, which the Father has sent in the name of Jesus.
The peace of Christ is not as the “world” gives. For the people of the Middle East and other parts of the world offer their words of “shalom” and “salam,” which are the Hebrew and Arabic words for “peace.” Its salutations and benedictions are generally matters of custom and polite ceremony and as such are nothing more than empty wishes or expressions of a thoughtless habit. And even they say it with real intent, what power or authority do they have to procure it for themselves or to distribute it to others?
Yet Jesus has procured peace with God for us through His sacrificial death on the cross. As the apostle Paul told the Ephesians, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace” (Eph. 2:13-14). Jesus is our peace.
Jesus is able to distribute His peace, His shalom, to us by abiding in us by His Spirit. It is this peace of Christ that calms our troubled and fearful hearts. According to Strong’s Concordance, true “shalom” means “completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.” This is the peace that Jesus offers. He doesn’t offer this peace as the world does. His peace is perfect and eternal. Those that receive His peace have put away worry and fear.
PRAYER: Dear Father, fill us afresh this day with the peace of Christ. Help us to abide in Him. For we are often troubled and afraid. We worry and we doubt. Help us to see these as signs that we are not abiding. Fill us afresh by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 25, 2023
“For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son…” (2 Samuel 7:12-14 NLT).
When David’s kingdom was established and he had built a house for himself in Jerusalem, he wanted to build a house for the Ark of the Lord. He told the prophet Nathan, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.”
Yet later that night the word of the Lord came to the prophet Nathan, telling him that David was not the one to build him a temple, but that his son would be. This prophecy had both an immediate and an ultimate fulfillment. It was immediately fulfilled through David’s son, Solomon, who built a glorious temple for God. However, this temple was ultimately destroyed.
Centuries later, another One was born to the line of David. He is the promised “seed” of David. He is the ultimate fulfillment of this Davidic promise. His name is Jesus, Son of David, Son of God, the Christ. And He is both the Chief Cornerstone and the Builder of this eternal temple, which is the Church of the living God and the Body of Christ.
PRAYER: Dear Father, Your promises are wonderful! We are astounded by Your plans and provision for us. Such things are too awesome for us to consider. We bow down in worship to You today. We are so thankful that we are adopted into Your family by faith in Your Son, Jesus. It’s in His name we pray, amen.
From: May 25, 2017
The instruction of wisdom begins with a proper fear of the Lord. Wisdom understands that God made us, sustains us, always watches us, and will one day demand an accounting of us. Understanding the attributes and works of God, wisdom rightly has an appropriate fear of God. The fear of God goes hand in hand with humility before God. The one who bows in humility and lowers the eyes in respect, will be honored and blessed by the Lord. But the stiff-necked fool who honors himself will be opposed (James 4:6).
From: May 25, 2016
“Orphans.” The Greek word here is the origin of our English word: “ὀρφανός, orphanos.” It can mean “parentless, fatherless, bereaved” or as in the KJV, “comfortless.” Which in this context seems most fitting. Jesus will not leave us “comfortless,” for he will send a Comforter. He was letting his disciples know that he would no longer be with them bodily, but would be with them in the Spirit. The promise he made to his disciples that he would “come to you” is already being fulfilled. This is not his future return when he will come again bodily. This “coming” is already here. The Spirit of Christ, the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter is present and available. We have not been left “as orphans.” He is with us.
From: May 25, 2015
The peace that Jesus offers is not only a cessation of hostilities between times of war, but a sense of well-being in our souls that is a down payment on its future completion in all creation. Jesus had the Hebrew idea of peace in mind, which is called “shalom.” According to Strong’s Concordance, the word shalom means “completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.” Jesus doesn’t offer this peace as the world does. His peace is perfect and eternal. Those that receive His peace have put away worry and fear.