This Sunday our sermon was delivered by Dave Schulze, an elder at the Walnut Creek Church of Christ. His lesson was on something that everyone with a heart prays for fervently - Peace. We are living in times now where whole generations have grown up knowing nothing but war. It's distressing enough for those of us who simply hear about these conflicts from news reports, but how devastating must it be for those who are living in it, surrounded by war everyday?
How to live in such a world? How can we find peace within ourselves? The place to begin, of course, is having peace with God in our hearts. Fortunately, the gospel is filled with many comforting thoughts about finding peace with God.
Phil. 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” That is to say, the thing we are fretting about might not change, but we can change our reactions to it. Our inner peace will settle our spirit. Once we allow God to envelope us with His peace, we will be able to accept and live more easily with our challenges. Moreover, with God’s peace in our heart, we can give greater testimony to others, being better able to reflect God’s glory onto others.
Our blessed Jesus, the prince of peace, is our path to God and the source of all peace.
The 29th Psalm tells us “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”
As we go about our lives this week, as we give thanks for all our blessings, may we live God’s peace in all aspects of our lives and be a beacon of peace to others.
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