Nougat 14

This business of Pursuing Peace is not always easy. Not with the busyness of our lives, not with exams – scholastic and otherwise – that seem to be directed at us personally from the bottomest pits of Hell. I know, I know – Hell is supposed to be a bottomless pit (I’ve never been but that’s what we’re told) – but when stuff happens, it does feel like it was sent from the lowest depths.

Yet, Jesus offers us The Perfect Solution: His Peace. Consider Today’s Holly Nougat

“Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” ‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Peace IN, Not Peace Out

The disciples were in the Upper Room, their prime meeting spot as it had the good memories of that Last Supper with Jesus before His trial and His crucifixion. They were also in hiding as they weren’t prepared for the exam facing them: overcoming fear. It wasn’t evident that that was the Practicum facing them, but that’s what they were up against. And what their spirits and rumors told them did not look promising.

Despite Mary Magdalene’s words to them, they anticipated the worst. In their minds Jesus had died, and there was no hope. In fact, it felt to them that they were next in line for persecution. Jesus’ words about being The Resurrection and The Life were long forgotten. They felt overwhelmed and already defeated.

One could say it was Peace Out – Peace had left the building.

Suddenly

Literally out off nowhere, Jesus appeared. After the initial surprise, it was a hero’s welcome. And yet again, as if it was the good old days, Jesus knew what they were thinking and feeling. He knew they were traumatized.

In Jesus’ inimical fashion, He spoke Peace over them. And he repeated Himself to them – Peace IN. It was Pearce for the journey ahead, the kind of Peace that had to be on the inside, so that they could overcome Fear. The kind of Peace that challenges the status quo by normalizing the in-dwelling of God’s Spirit, denouncing fear, failures, and factions.

It kept those disciples going despite all they faced, I’m sure it will keep us too. So we pray,

Thanks Lord for Your gift of peace. You are at work within us in our worst situations. Your Peace heals, sustains and delivers us from the mindset of doubts and fears.

Today, may I walk in Your Peace. May I be an agent of Your Peace. May I pursue Your Peace with all that I am. May others see Your Peace abiding in me and seek after it. May Your Name be glorified because of Your Peace within me.

I receive Your Peace within and ask that Your Peace remains as a gift for others wherever I go, in Jesus name amen

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May all we seek be found in Christ