Not as the world gives
As Jesus was nearing the end of His time on earth with His disciples, He began speaking about peace. Specifically, He promised a peace that would keep them no matter what happened.
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 NIV, emphasis mine)
As I read this verse, I kept asking myself, “How does the world give?”
Conditionally.
If it’s payday, I have peace.
If my team won, I have peace.
If we’re not fighting, I have peace.
If I get my way, I have peace.
When COVID is over, I’ll have peace.
When I win the lottery, I’ll have peace.
When enough people like my posts, I’ll have peace.
When I drop the last 10 pounds, I’ll have peace.
When I get away on vacation, I’ll have peace.
It isn’t that we shouldn’t have peace if or when those things happen because every one of those situations can bring some level of peace. But the question is whether that peace will last through the opposite condition.
When it’s the third week of the month and the account has dwindled.
When the Super Bowl is over and the confetti is the other team’s colors.
When you’ve exercised, dieted, feel great and yet gained 2 pounds.
When vacation is months away and work is more stressful than ever.
The peace Jesus gives is a deep, abiding (translation — it hangs around) internal peace. It is a state of being — and more specifically — and state of being with the Prince of Peace.
[Tweet “Our peace doesn’t depend on what happens around us, but on Who is within us.”]When we abide with Jesus, our peace doesn’t depend on what happens around us, but on Who is within us. Receive peace as Jesus gives, not as the world gives, and you’ll find the world asking you for a piece of your peace.
That’s a great time to tell them about Jesus.
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