John 20: 19 – 26”………. Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” V21 “So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’” V26 “……. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’”
Dear God,
I appreciate this crisp new day, with cold air that is invigorating. Often it is my first inclination to sleep on, and not answer the call to get up early and read Your precious word for longer without distractions. Sometimes it is my constant thought, ‘it is too soon to get up, I’ll just get back into bed for a few quite moments of reflection’; which turns into 30mins or an hour! I feel the loss of time for longer communion with You. Continue to strive with me Lord, so that I will be obedient to Your every call.
John retold the last events in the life of Jesus, who since coming back to life was rarely publically visible. He appeared in certain places and to people of His fellowship, to comfort and verify His mission for those who would be left behind on earth. Again Jesus gives them (us) a promise of peace, which at the time must have been so needed, following the turbulent events leading to the death of their beloved Master, through to them finally realizing the mission of Jesus on earth, was about to finish.
You are a God of peace, and for every age, peace was/is available for anyone who believing comes to You. Hallelujah, for us, You are our sanctuary in this troubling and troubled place we call home. I again praise You for the times I have been given peace, even though the circumstances around me did not change.
This was and is not a peace in which I was bundled away or wrapped up. It was a peace that allowed me to face the event and get on and do (in Your strength) what I had to do. In fact John writes in chapter 20: 21”…..Peace to You! ‘As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ He wants us to love others as He did and to reveal God to them, V22 “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”
It seems to me from experience and observation, that we of earth, are not truly happy in our skins, or head space, unless we have and are truly at peace. God, You knew what we most needed, and so made available free forgiveness and the gift of peace. It is a puzzle, that we who know about this, are so slow to ask for the gift of peace for ourselves, and to go tell everyone we can, that they can be released from the ‘knot’ they are in; to be replaced by the peace that Jesus promised. I read that the disciples after Jesus returned to heaven were not so constrained. Neither need I be!
Please remind me, that when I am not at peace, it is because I have stepped out of Your encircling love and peace, and You long to re-direct me back. I just have to ask!
Amen