Day Five

by Rushing Watson

“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

The unfortunate reality of my life is that I often look for peace in circumstantial situations. When my work is going well, I find peace. When the relationships in my life are thriving, I find peace. When the leader in the political office who aligns best with my morals and beliefs is in power, I find peace. When my 401k balance is in line with my retirement goals, I find peace. The only problem with finding peace in circumstantial situations is that when they fail, instead of peace, I find chaos and confusion. When conflict arises at work or home, when our country’s economy falls into recession, when our culture turns from post-Christian to anti-gospel… I no longer can find peace.

But I must be able to find this peace, so I search and search and search in the circumstances of life only to be let down each and every time.

BUT thanks be to God that the gospel does not call us to find peace in circumstances of this life, but instead in a person. That person is the Prince of Peace. Prophesied of in the Old Testament, longed for by Israel, born in Bethlehem at the very time of peace and prosperity in Rome–true Peace took on flesh and dwelt among us.

The peace that Jesus brings is not the peace the world brings. The world brings peace through circumstances, which means that peace can be taken away. But when it comes to the peace Christ brings, it’s not the ‘clean up the outside of your life’ peace, it’s the ‘transform your heart’ peace. Which is why just a few chapters later in John 16:33, Jesus says:

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Not you may have tribulation, but you will. The peace that Jesus brings has nothing to do with our circumstances, rather even in the worst circumstances this world can throw at us, Christ still offers the promise of peace in himself.

This season we will be ruled by one of two offers for peace: the peace the world offers or the peace Jesus offers. May we accept the eternal offer that can never be taken away and rest in the Prince of Peace. The very Prince of Peace who was born to bring peace to our hearts and who died to accomplish that peace as he overcame the world.

PRAYER

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. Father, may I fix my eyes on your Son who does not offer circumstantial peace but eternal peace. May I rest in and allow that peace offer to rule my life this advent season. Amen.