Y'all, it snowed yesterday! See this is fine if it's anywhere from December to February, but it's April. It snowed for a few hours and some started to stick, which was crazy! Sadly, the rain washed it away and it was just gross outside after but still, it snowed in APRIL! (The last full week of April I might add.) Not only is it weird and exciting and crazy that it snowed in April, but I live in Arkansas... The south doesn't get snow when it's supposed to.
Anyway, HI! I haven't talked to you in a while, I am working on something big for YouTube and I am super excited about it! I thought today would be a good day to continue with our Fruits of the Spirit. Today's fruit, if you couldn't tell by the title, is peace. Peace is mentioned through the bible a lot. For example, the youth group (that I co-lead) is going through the Full Armor of God. "... and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace..." (Ephesians 6:15, NIV) It is also mentioned when talking about the Fruits of the Spirit... obviously or this blog post wouldn't be happening. I am going to share some scripture with you that has to do with peace.
During our discussion of the shoes of peace (as the youth leader called them), we talked about a Greek word, eiréné(i-ray'-nay), which means peace, quietness, rest. Greek words are always interesting to me. The definition of peace is "freedom from disturbance". Sometimes we find it hard to find peace, we are always disturbed or distracted by something. However, peace is at hand.
Occasionally, my church picks a verse to focus on for the year. This year the verse we are focusing on is John 20:21 which says, "Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me even so I am sending you.'"(John 20:21, ESV) He said this after appearing to His disciples in a locked room after He was resurrected from the dead. Let me say that again, Jesus appeared to His disciples in a LOCKED ROOM after he was RESURRECTED from the DEAD. If someone you knew to be dead suddenly appeared with you in a locked room and said, "Peace be with you" What would your first reaction be? Think about this now, what if it was Jesus and He wasn't asking. Notice He isn't making a suggestion or asking His disciples to do something, He is telling them. Jesus had died and they were terrified they were going to be next so they hid in a room with the door locked. Then Jesus was suddenly in the room and simply says "Peace be with you". Jesus gives us the peace we need in all circumstances.
Likewise, in John 16, Jesus is teaching His disciples, telling them what is to come (His death and resurrection) when he says, "I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation but take heart, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33, ESV) He is telling The Twelve (and those to come after) that things are going to suck and they are going to get hard but we need to look to Jesus for peace that He is freely handing out. Then He says why we should look to Him for peace; because HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD! He has already defeated death! Who else would you look to for peace? He says you will have trouble. Not you might, or it won't be that bad, no He says it will happen and it will be terrible! When this happens, not if, look to Him who gives you peace because God will not let you be tempted by anything you cannot overcome! (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Jesus left us to go make us a home in Heaven so that we may be with Him to the ends of time. He will never abandon us! Again, in John, Jesus is telling His disciples of His coming death and He says to them, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27, ESV) Jesus is giving you peace! He is handing it to you. Whatever is on your mind that you're worried about, take it to Jesus and He will give you peace.
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