John 14:27 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.
All over the world, almost all nations hear their political leaders promise peace during their reign. Sad to say, even as Christians, we believe them and fall for the promises that when certain things change or fall into place or happen, then there will be real peace.
The truth is, however, true peace is something all of us can walk in and live with, because Jesus promised us real peace, and He is the Prince of peace (Isa. 9:6) and the only source of real peace. The world's idea of peace is when there are not any chaos or wars, hatred, disease, injustice, and all other forms of unrest.
The truth is that the peace Jesus promised and gives is not the absence of chaos, wars, hatred, disease, injustice, and unrest, but a peace we have in the midst of all of it! Many people do not live in the peace of Christ, and when misery and opposition and unrest rage around them, they long for something that Christ has already given us.
Remember the time the disciples woke Jesus in the boat during a storm, thinking they were going to perish? Ah listen to Jesus' words. He spoke to the wind and sea: "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm (Mark 4:39).
The Greek word σιωπάω (siopao) actually means "Be silent, come into peace!"
What do you do with Jesus' peace? Have you come into it and live in it as well as with it?
It is a peace that still calms the storms and chaos and moments that seem out of control, because Christ's peace is present. Jesus didn't give us something He didn’t live in, for He said, "My peace I give to you."
That same peace that He showed during His ministry is given to us.
Meditate with me today on what it really means that you can have Jesus' peace, exactly as He had it, and why He could say to you and me, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Amen.