That You May Have Peace

In the 14th chapter of John, Jesus knows that the time has come for His greatest work. He knows that he was going to be betrayed and handed over to His enemies for His crucifixion. He and His disciples were at supper in the evening, when He rose and began to wash His disciples’ feet. Afterwards, He began to speak to them, about the  Father, answered prayer, The Helper in the Holy Spirit, and the gift of peace. During this time of turmoil in His own soul, He speaks to them and us about "His gift of peace".

John 14: 27    Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

Then again in Chapter 16:33 Jesus says:  I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Also in Luke 10:19:

Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.

Spoken from the heart and mind of Jesus, the son of God who only speaks what the Father speaks, tells us that He has given all of us peace. It is the will of God, that we know He has provided everything for us. Then we have freedom to seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness.  Even our ancient enemy is defeated, and if he rears up to challenge us, Jesus has given us authority over him by using His name. It is by faith we take a stand (in peace) and use that authority.

So as one writer said years ago, (paraphrase)
"If God's Will for you is complete peace and joy, unless you experience only this, you must be refusing to acknowledge His Will. His Will is changeless; it is eternal; it does not vacillate. If or when you are not at peace, it can only be because you do not believe you are in Him. Yet, He is “All in All”. His peace is complete, and as His child, you are included; you must be included in it."

Being born again means that your spirit has become new – a new creation, created by God Himself. Your sinful past has been done away with, and that old self has been cast away, never to be remembered by God. All your sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus. So, your newborn “will” is “God’s will”, even though your mind hasn’t been re-born, it now has to be transformed. Paul tells in in his letter to Rome.

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Father God, the activities of the day seem to overwhelm us at times, and we forget that in your peace is where we belong, and where all answers lay. We seek your peace, and may the reality of that peace permeate us so that we are totally saturated by its very essence, every moment of every day. As we hold fast to that confession of truth, we receive unspeakable peace and joy. Therefore, we are able to share it with the world around us… In Jesus’ name… Amen.