Heritage Lutheran Church is a Bible-believing, Confessional Lutheran Church that proclaims the true Word of God.
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Peace

27 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 – John 14:27
 
Jesus’ disciples were very troubled and afraid.  The scene was the upper room, the place of the Last Supper, the night in which Jesus would be betrayed.  Jesus had explained to the disciples that it was time for him to go. “ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

But the Apostles Thomas cried out,  “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Jesus also promised to send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to help them.

Jesus wanted his disciples to know that he was at peace with them- even though he could look ahead and see that all of them would abandon him to the cross.  They were forgiven by Jesus, even before their actions.  Jesus wanted the disciples to know that they were at peace with God. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, all their sins were paid for. God the Father would never be angry with them so long as they held on to Jesus in faith.  Jesus would prepare a place for them in the Father’s house.

This is peace such as the world cannot give. Any peace between men is temporary. Countries once at peace are now at war. Husbands and wives have a day of peace only to be followed by heated argument and disagreement.  Close friends today are distant enemies tomorrow.

But God’s peace is real and permanent.  No one can change God’s peace with you. Well, you yourself can abolish that peace by turning and again becoming an enemy of God.  But not even Satan himself can abolish God’s peace with you.  That peace of God is described as a peace that passes all understanding (Phil 4:7), for who can understand the full depth of God’s love which established that peace between God and man?

Knowing God’s peace eternally established with you, Jesus can say “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.”  The God who was willing to sacrifice his only Son on a cross for you will not hesitate to do anything else to help you (Romans 8:32)

Lord God, Heavenly Father, let your peace roll over us like a mighty wave. Let it lift us above the chaos of this world.  Help us to confront every challenge from the perspective of our Peace in Christ . For if we are at peace with you, we can be at peace with anyone, and we can have peace in the world. Help us to live and model your peace among our fearful families, friends, and neighbors that they too might come to know and trust Christ, the Prince of Peace.  Amen.