Comfort and Joy

Dec. 6 Comfort and Joy

Trust in the Lord, and you will be given the reward of Peace beyond understanding.

Trust in the Lord and you will be given Peace. We can also say have Faith, which is actively trusting in the Lord, and you will be given Peace. A Peace that many people will not understand. There will come a time, after our new birth, when a friend will approach and tell us that we are different. They can see and feel the calmness, which the Holy Spirit has brought with Him. How different we have become indeed. We have been given Peace with God Almighty Himself and everything will be different for the rest of our lives. Once we have made Peace with God we are given Peace by trusting all things to God and patiently waiting with the knowledge that He will do what is best. That is the meaning of Peace and without Jesus Christ none of this would be possible.

The definition of peace is freedom from hostility. Many people will tell you the meaning depends on how the word is used, but there is only one Peace that brings eternal life. Can you tell me anything more important than eternal life? So, Peace is freedom from the hostility that the fall of man has caused with God. When we accept the gift that our Father in Heaven has given us through His Son Jesus Christ that hostility is removed. You are at Peace with God and your journey has begun, the most important journey anyone will ever take. The walking with God that brings Christ-like character. Rom. 5:1 "Now that we have been put right with God through Faith, we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ!" Luk. 19:41-44 "He (Jesus) came closer to the city, and when He saw it, he wept over it, saying, "If you only knew today what is needed for Peace! But now you cannot see it! The time will come when your enemies will surround you with barricades, blockade you, and close in on you from every side. They will completely destroy you and the people within your walls; not a single stone will they leave in its place, because you did not recognize the time when God came to save you!"

There is the daily Peace that comes with each step that we take. When we face such day as these with terrorism and there comes no worry. There is a Peace given because we know God is in control. I lived in Florida when during the time when 5 hurricanes made landfall and I saw many filled with fear in their eyes. Sure, you prepare and do all you can to stay safe, but the rest is up to God. There were also many I watched filled with Peace and I watched how they were surrounded by people who were frightened. They could feel God standing next to them, they saw the calmness that made no sense, and that is who they wanted to be near. It reminds me of a joke I was told. There was an airplane full of people on its way to New York. Suddenly, the airplane entered a storm it was unable to fly over. The airplane began to shake fiercely and was being thrown around like a piece of paper in the wind. The people on the airplane were terrified! Some were screaming, some were grasping their seats tightly, but all of them were scared to death. Then one of the passengers noticed a 6 year old little girl sitting in her seat. She sat there quietly with a small grin on her face listening to her headphones without a worry in the world. Finally, the airplane passed safely through the storm and the passenger walked up to the little girl. He asked her, "Why were you not afraid during the storm we went through?" and she replied, "Because my dad is the pilot silly." The truth is our Father in Heaven is the pilot, so we have nothing to fear. Phi. 4:6-7 "Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart. And Gods Peace, which is beyond human understanding will keep you hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus." Luk. 1:78-79 "Our God is merciful and tender. He will cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us and to shine from Heaven on all those who live in the dark shadow of death, to guide our steps into the path of Peace."

There is also the Peace that is given in times of extreme distress. In times when our frail human bodies are about to fail. In some of these situations the Holy Spirit will release His power within us. Jesus Christ knows our pain, and through the Holy Spirit instant Peace is given covering over all the pain immediately. There was a time when I stood in a bathroom, so full of fear I could not breath. My blood pressure was through the roof I'm sure. I went into a stall to sit down because I just knew I was going to pass out shortly. For some reason I just knew to pray. I closed these eyes and as so many times when I'm not sure what to say I said, "Please help me Lord, this I pray in the Name of Jesus Christ." When I opened these eyes there was a warmth within me. A complete calmness washed over me, my breathing was normal, and I actually felt happy! At a time when I was so full of fear that this body was ready to break there was given complete Peace. A Peace that came from Heaven through Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit filling me from head to toe. "What the heck just happened here?" was the first thought that popped out my head and then I looked up and said, "Thank you, Lord." Rom. 14:17 "For Gods Kingdom is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, Peace, and joy which the Holy Spirit gives."

In all that has just been written Christ Jesus is the one who makes Peace possible. It is the sacrifice Jesus made that has given us Peace with God the Father, it is Christ Jesus who is petitioning on our behalf to our Father who releases Peace in situations, and it is Faith in Jesus that gives us salvation, which has taken away the sting of death, giving us Peace even unto death. I believe Peace is what distinguishes a Christian more than anything else. It is that man or woman who sits calmly through the storms life brings that shows Gods glory so clearly to others. I leave you with the words that have given me comfort more than once in the new life with Christ about Peace. Joh. 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My [own] Peace I now give and bequeth to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

Peace and Love to you all