“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.“
John 14:27a (NIV)
This is Advent Week Two. We focus on peace. We learn more about it.
At this moment we all need God’s peace, more than ever.
Jesus did say:
“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)
And Paul reminds us:
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. (Ephesians 2:14–17, NIV)
- He is our peace
- He reconciled the Jews and the Gentiles
- He set aside the law with its commands and regulations
- He created one humanity
- He came and preached peace to both groups – those near and those far.
What does peace mean to you?
Peace with God
Finding peace with God meant all the difference to me in 2001. That peace opened my heart. It strengthened my marriage. It changed my outlook on life. It changed my outlook on giving. I saw miracles. (Read my Faith story)
Peace within Myself
Learning to let go of my tendencies to judge, to be frustrated when things don’t go my way, to accept how God has made me (totally not OCD). I am scattered but the Holy Spirit seems to bring me to the right thing at the right time. To be happy I can paint and write. To be happy!!
Peace with Others
I haven’t had too much trouble with this over the years. I learned as a child to get along with others. But it isn’t always so. When tired I can be cranky and irritable. I can lash out when I shouldn’t. And my husband is usually the one who gets the brunt of my frustration. So when I can be at peace with myself, it leads me to be patient with others.
As I read through the Luke Challenge (New Christmas Tradition), today was Luke 7. There is so much in this chapter that it can be overwhelming.
I heard: Faith — healing — love — peace
I wondered who hears the truth about Jesus. Why are poorer countries building their faith faster than North America? Answer: There is nothing in the poor countries standing in their way to hear the truth. Here in North America, we are bombarded by worldly things and ideas.
We have to learn to let go and submit to God. Accept and thank Him for what we have, but don’t hold on to it tightly.
I wrote an Abecedarian poem (use each letter of the alphabet as the first word in each line) inspired by Chapter 7 and in keeping with Advent Week Two.
A Plea at Christmas
Accept the Word of God
Before it’s too late
’Cause life is short
Don’t wait
Everything depends on
Following Jesus
God waits
Hoping to gather all His children
Instead of
Jumping to the end
Keeping His promise
Life to all those who believe
Make a decision
Nothing else is as important
Open your eyes and ears
Put faith first
Quickly stop the marathon
Running in the world’s race
Seek Jesus
Talk to Him
Understand His
Voice and His
Ways
eXpect His answer
You’re almost there
Zed — the end is near, peace
©Janis Cox 2020
This is the second of four devotions for Advent.
First devotion: Advent = Hope
Third devotion: Advent = Joy
Fourth devotion: Advent = Love
Our thanks to Janis Cox for this devotion, one of many by various contributors posted by Haliburton Pastoral Charge. If you would like to submit a devotion for consideration, please email us.
Haliburton Pastoral Charge 