This is the second devotional for the week of October 23-26. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you
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Where Is Peace?
“Do you still hope for peace?” a journalist asked Bob Dylan in 1984.
“There is not going to be any peace,” Dylan replied. His response drew criticism, yet there’s no denying that peace remains ever elusive.
About 600 years before Christ, most prophets were predicting peace. God’s prophet wasn’t one of them. Jeremiah reminded the people that God had said, “Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people” (Jeremiah 7:23). Yet they repeatedly ignored the Lord and His commands. Their false prophets said, “Peace, peace” (8:11), but Jeremiah predicted disaster. Jerusalem fell in 586 bc.
Peace is rare. But amid Jeremiah’s book of dire prophecies we discover a God who loves relentlessly. “I have loved you with an everlasting love,” the Lord told His rebellious people. “I will build you up again” (31:3–4).
God is a God of love and peace. Conflict comes because of our rebellion against Him. Sin destroys the world’s peace and robs each of us of inner peace. Jesus came to this planet to reconcile us to God and give us that inner peace. “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” wrote the apostle Paul (Romans 5:1). His words are among the most hope-filled ever written.
Whether we live in a combat zone or dwell in a serene neighborhood with nary a whisper of war, Christ invites us into His peace.
“There is not going to be any peace,” Dylan replied. His response drew criticism, yet there’s no denying that peace remains ever elusive.
About 600 years before Christ, most prophets were predicting peace. God’s prophet wasn’t one of them. Jeremiah reminded the people that God had said, “Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people” (Jeremiah 7:23). Yet they repeatedly ignored the Lord and His commands. Their false prophets said, “Peace, peace” (8:11), but Jeremiah predicted disaster. Jerusalem fell in 586 bc.
Peace is rare. But amid Jeremiah’s book of dire prophecies we discover a God who loves relentlessly. “I have loved you with an everlasting love,” the Lord told His rebellious people. “I will build you up again” (31:3–4).
God is a God of love and peace. Conflict comes because of our rebellion against Him. Sin destroys the world’s peace and robs each of us of inner peace. Jesus came to this planet to reconcile us to God and give us that inner peace. “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” wrote the apostle Paul (Romans 5:1). His words are among the most hope-filled ever written.
Whether we live in a combat zone or dwell in a serene neighborhood with nary a whisper of war, Christ invites us into His peace.
God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. C. S. Lewis
Whether we live in a combat zone or dwell in a serene neighborhood with nary a whisper of war, Christ invites us into His peace.
ReplyDeleteThis really spoke to me. It's hard to reconcile what we see on the news and read about in history books when many of us live in contentment in our homes and families.
Resting in Christ's peace is one of the hardest things to do, especially amidst turmoil. I've had personal experiences that have forced me to do nothing but this, simply because I had nowhere else to turn. When I gave in, and stopped trying to "fix", the peace I felt was overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a hard world, a world with very little peace but Jesus brings peace and when you follow Jesus He can bring peace amongst the hard and cruel world we live in. Whether we live in a combat zone or dwell in a serene neighborhood with nary a whisper of war, Christ invites us into His peace. I just love this quote- because like I mentioned before we live in a hard world but peace can be wherever out Lord is. Thank you Lord for being that peace for us.
ReplyDeleteWe cannot find peace externally, that's for sure. Not in our world. On of my favorite scriptures: "Rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him..." Let's rest in God's peace!
ReplyDeleteThis may be a bit off but this reminds me of a verse in the scriptures that is often used during the Christmas season, especially on Christmas cards, from Luke 2:14 "Peace on earth, goodwill to men." However, it actually says depending on ones translation "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!" Good News Translation. The earth's peace is fleeting and unnerving. The Lord's peace can be with us in the midst of the storms of life. The storms will come but we can trust the Lord to batten down the hatches for us.
ReplyDelete