Assured Peace

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

ASSURED PEACE

John 14:22-27

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" 23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 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.

NIV

Having considered the idea that because we love him we will obey his teaching, and in addition, we looked at just what that teaching might have been. We have to conclude that we have obeyed his teaching as we know that Jesus and the Father have come to us and made their home with us. We also can conclude that it is true because we have received the Counselor, the Holy Spirit. He has been teaching us all things for we know that in and of ourselves we know nothing. Without the working of the Holy Spirit within us, first of all, we would have never left our life of sin and crossed over that great chasm to a life in Christ. No one would make that choice without the urging of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit, we are trapped and powerless to leave that life controlled by our sinful nature. However, because we did, we are assured it is because of the Spirit and thus we can be confident we obeyed his teaching as well. For since the day the Spirit revealed our sin and prompted us to repent and accept Jesus, He has been dwelling within us teaching us all truth. He has also been manifesting His power, his gifts, and his fruit within us, transforming our very nature so that we are becoming more like who we should be. We also know that His work is constant, that we are a work in progress and that we are always in a state of transforming as we will never be fully transformed until the day Jesus returns to take us home. We also know our transformation has not been complete because we have those moments of relapse. Sometimes it seems we take four steps forward and then one backward and have to retrace that step again. Still, we are always aware of His presence and his leading us into all truth. We also know without a doubt that he does remind us, which is part of his work within, of what Jesus said. The Spirit has also confirmed within our hearts that we do not have anything to be afraid of. Our heart is not troubled, we are not anxious or in commotion regarding our relationship with Him. We have absolute confidence that we have eternal life, and that all things that happen in our life are for our good because we also know without a doubt that we have been called according to his purpose. That is not to be confused with our specific calling or task as a member of the body of Christ. This being called according to his purpose is the calling to follow Jesus, to yield to the prompting of the Spirit and repent and be saved. That is the purpose of God, to redeem his people. That is the whole reason Jesus came, to die for us, to take our sin, and thus restore us to our rightful place as children of God. That is His purpose and it has been fulfilled within us. Nevertheless, we also live our daily life without fear and full of the peace of Christ. This Greek word that is translated peace carries the meaning of a state of tranquility, but also it has been given a meaning particular to Christianity as the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ and thus fearing nothing from God and content with its earthy lot, whatsoever that is. That is us.  This world can never give us that peace, or calm delight. The world is always in chaos and turmoil without ever being at peace. How can it offer any kind of peace of mind or spirit? The world can only cause us anxiety and unrest, discontentment, envy, jealously, lust for things, and a path that leads straight to hell. Jesus, on the other hand, offers us total peace of mind and spirit. He offers us a way to live content and unafraid, both of this world, and from God. He gives us the assurance every morning as the sun rises in the east and sets in the West, that He has everything under his authority and that we are in the palm of His hand. Being afraid or having peace. We take peace.