THE PEACE OF CHRIST GIVEN TO YOU

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid . . . These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace . . . Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ" (John 14:27,33; Rom 1:7)

Devotion 4 of 12

PEACE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

Our peace, from another view, comes "through Christ." He, and He alone, is the channel through which this marvelous benefit is realized. If there is no union with Jesus, there can be no experience of His peace. If there is no acceptance of the salvation which He has wrought, there can be no participation in the peace.

On the other hand, if we "fellowship" with Christ, in accord with God's call (1 Cor. 1:9), and "receive the reconciliation" wrought by Him (Rom. 5:11), we will be given His peace. it is not possible to embrace Jesus and be without His peace.

"Therefore being justified by faith, we HAVE peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). Inner peace is the fruitage of peace with God. When we are no longer alienated from Him, the heart is blessed with tranquility and stability.

This means that "peace" is not primarily psychological it is spiritual! It is not simply a calm demeanor, or the ability to overlook unsettling circumstances. How appropriate the statement; "The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching ("telling the good news of," NIV) peace by Jesus Christ: (He is Lord of all:)" (Acts 10:36).

PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ, I desire to be more aware of what You have granted me through Him than what the world has to offer.

-- TOMORROW: PEACE FROM JESUS CHRIST --