Good Morning All,
Just
a little peace and quiet, that is usually what most people want. I just want a little peace and quiet so I can
rest a little; just five minutes. You
get home from work, you come in from outside on these hot July days, the mental
stress of making things last a little longer because you can’t afford to
replace them now, the emotional stress we feel when relationships are wounded
are all things that make us seek some peace and quiet. I remember watching a news program shortly
after the 9/11 attacks and they showed some National Guard members who were
stationed at various airports around the country. The stress that was displayed in their faces
as they waited and watched for something they neither knew nor understood. The news program showed how most of them
slept while leaning against a wall for a few minutes at a time; they so
desperately wanted some peace and quiet.
In our lives we often seek peace and quiet,
but we often look to the wrong places.
Too often we look to the world for our peace but to the world, peace
means not fighting. Peace to the world
is like halftime of a football game. It
is time to reassess the situation and try to exploit the weaknesses of your
opponent. Too often we look to ourselves
and then we begin to fear and to worry and we let our hearts be troubled. Twice in the 14th chapter of John,
Jesus tells his disciples to “not let your hearts be troubled.” Because of the salvation that Jesus earned
and then gave to us we have hope for eternal life. But Jesus made another promise to his
disciples; he promised to send His Spirit to them.
The Greek word used for “Helper” is
paraclete. We do not have a good English
equivalent for this word. It means the
one who travels with you or beside you.
We have different names in different translations. The Spirit is called the Advocate, the
Helper, the Consoler. My personal
favorite is the King James Version where the Spirit is called the
Comforter. Jesus tells his disciples
(that includes you and me),” I will send the Comforter. For me there is no better symbol of
peace. On those cold winter days, I find
my favorite blanket and wrap up in it and I can sleep as peacefully as
possible. That is the image that we
should see. Whenever we lack peace,
whenever we need peace God sends his Spirit the Comforter to wrap you up and to
give you peace. We receive the kind of
peace that lets us rest that allows “our hearts to not be troubled.” One of the many blessing that God gives to
his redeemed children is peace, peace with God.
We will still face struggles and challenges, but we face them knowing
that God is for us. We have His promise
to rely on. We have His peace; we have
His Comforter.
Almighty
Father, through your Spirit we are given peace and comfort. Lead us to trust in your Word that this is
true. Give us the faith to trust in this
promise and to hold firmly to it. Teach
me to live at peace with You, to make peace with others and even with
myself. Send your Spirit of Comfort to
all those who are in pain or in sorrow.
Bless them with your mercy and use us as your hands to deliver this
love. In Jesus’ precious name we pray,
Amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor
Bret
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