God’s Gift of Peace

“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.” (John 14:27)

True peace is not derived from circumstances, people, or things; true peace is derived from Jesus. Christ’s peace is peculiarly His to give as He purchased it with His precious blood, He being the substitution for a perishing world. Jesus was commissioned to bring peace to mankind.

“Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything for it but truth.”
-Matthew Henry

The peace Jesus offers is precious and dearly costly compared to the world’s transient variety. The world gives temporary satisfaction in all things. The excitement that gratifies our passions and affections and pride for a season always leaves us longing for more. The world is unable to offer what Christ’s peace affords for it does not possess it to give–there is no rest with the world. Indeed, what Jesus bestows, the world cannot offer at all–peace of heart, peace of conscience, and a peace that comes from knowing our sin is forgiven. The peace Jesus gives results in an inward calm and rest for the soul amidst even the greatest trials and tribulations, when circumstances become stern and severe. Those who possess the peace of Jesus experience strength and hope.

“Grace remits sin and peace quiets the conscience. Sin and conscience torment us, but Christ has overcome these fiends now and forever. Only Christians possess this victorious knowledge given from above. These two terms, grace and peace, constitute Christianity. Grace involves the remission of sins, peace and a happy conscience. Sin is not canceled by lawful living, for no person is able to live up to the law…the fact is the more a person seeks credit for himself by his own efforts, the deeper he goes into debt. Nothing can take away sin except the grace of God. In actual living, however it is not so easy to persuade oneself that by grace alone, in opposition to every other means, we obtain the forgiveness of our sins and peace with God.”
-Martin Luther

Our Lord is neither unwilling nor sparing in the distribution of His precious peace to those who believe–amazingly, being far more willing to give than the world is to receive.

“Peace is Christ’s peculiar gift: not money, not worldly ease, not temporal prosperity. These are at best very questionable possessions. They often do more harm than good to the soul. They act as clogs and weights to our spiritual life. Inward peace of conscience, arising from a sense of pardoned sin and reconciliation with God, is a far greater blessing. This peace is the property of all believers, whether high or low, rich or poor.” (John Charles Ryle)

I am reminded of the prophet Isaiah’s words:

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3)

There will never be lacking anything on Christ’s part for the believer’s anguish–when we come to Him. He provides every medicine for a troubled heart and provides it in abundance–always doing more than we can ask or imagine. Scripture tells us:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
(Ephesians 3:20-21)

This peace from Jesus is not mere formality; it is a real and true blessing–enriching the soul eternally. This is sufficient reason for our hearts not to be burdened down with the troubles of this world where sickness and death, hunger and poverty, deceit and betrayal press down upon us as heavy weights.

Take It to Heart

“To added affliction He addeth His mercy, to multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.”
-Annie Johnson Flint

Jesus tells us to be courageous:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

The peace of Jesus provides calm in the midst of a storm. We are to be as a child in the comforting arms of our Father who remains with us. He enables us to soar above our circumstances as we take captive our thoughts in obedience to Jesus.

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