Devotional - June 11, 2025

Scripture: John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

All states of peace in life involve action, even if it simply means allowing oneself to relax.  Even that can take conscious effort, you have to tell yourself to stop ruminating on this or that.  The promise given today by Jesus Christ involves some effort to receive it.  The peace Jesus left for us is found in the teachings and life He gave while on earth.  Many seek the Lord's peace, but never seek to know God.  If you've never done so, read the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).  If you have read them, take time to read them again.  You can get through all of them in a month and a half if you read a couple chapters a day.  My guess is you'll say, I never saw that before.  How could I have missed it?  Because, as Alice says in Alice in Wonderland, "It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then."  When you studied a Biblical book yesterday, the Spirit moved in your spirit and brought change, made you think, and reconsider.  It changed your perspective and subsequently who you are.  You are not the same person.  This is one of the reasons simply memorizing Biblical texts is not always helpful.  If your understanding of the text and how you interact with it never changes, it won't help.  Without the renewal God brings, it is lifeless.  It is a law to be followed.  Paul came to know this well after his conversion (2 Cor 3:6).  The teachings of Jesus make us think and consider the issues of life.  And in doing so, they bring us into a higher consciousness.  They change you (Heb 4:12).  They call us to have faith in God, to trust God, even while we work things out (Mt 28:20) and are not sure about things.  The disciples, as they spread the Gospel, were challenged in all kinds of ways and struggled, but their faith in God remained strong.  They could have peace in the storms and so can you.

Pray with me ..., Holy God, Your faithfulness and love give us peace, even in the storms, even in our imperfection.  Hear our praise and thankfulness for it.  Hear our prayer for our loved ones.  Grant them the blessings they need.  Hear our prayers for our church.  Lead us O God, may we be the blessing You call us to be in Jesus' name, Amen.

God's peace,

Pastor Brian