Peace

Another excerpt from my devotional journal.

"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". John 14:27

What is peace? By definition, it is "calm, quietness, absence of anxiety" (Australian English Dictionary). Troubled: anxious or worried. The Australian English Dictionary uses a unique definition to describe 'afraid'. Frightened or regretful. Regretful. Interesting word.

According to this verse, God is the giver of peace - he can give us quietness of the heard and lift our anxieties. The verse notes My peace - it's not just "peace", but "My peace" ... but what does God mean by this? How is His peace different? Maybe the passage in Philippians 4:4-9 helps explain this a little. Specifically, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." [Transcends - pass beyond limits of, exist above and independent of]. It goes on to say we should think about whatever is right, pure, lovely, admirable - anything excellent and worthy of praise. Put this all into practice and God's peace is with us.

The phrase "I do not give to you as the world gives" - this kind of peace is certainly not the kind of peace the world seeks to achieve. This may also be referring to the idea that we shouldn't be setting our hearts on earthly things, but than, who am I to say?

The last part calls us to take action. We need to not let our hearts be troubled. We need to let go of our regrets and fears. And we need to take action by thinking of those things which are excellent and praiseworthy. That's a bit like living in the moment and appreciating what's around you, as an example, instead of dwelling on our worries.

Going back to the "peace that transcends all understanding" - calmness, quietness, absence from anxiety, even when we do not understand the things that trouble us. God gives us that peace.