So... PEACE!

One of the most difficult things that I have had to deal with since my sweet wife passed away back in September of 2018 is the absence of her comforting presence.  I wouldn’t even dare to try and count the number of times, since her heavenly homegoing, when I have been dealing with the pressures of life and in exacerbation called out:

“Oh Piper, I could sure use a hug about now!”

Those patented Piper hugs, smiles, words of encouragement or the simple act of taking my hand in hers always brought an instant calm, clarity and an over-powering PEACE into me and the situation in which I was working through.  But since then… well… I’ve struggled to find other sources from which I can find personal comfort, clarity and PEACE when needed in my life.

My Go-To (combined with Piper’s input and physical touch) was always the Word of God.  Following that would be our children and other family members… but to be perfectly honest… Piper and I had developed such a oneness in our relationship, that I always felt that I could share ANYTHING with her in confidence, without judgement, question or embarrassment… but I am not (yet) at that level of intimate trust with anyone else… so there are certain feelings, thoughts, questions and dreams that I keep inside and cannot share.

But I received a fresh revelation when I was studying the Word earlier this week, that opened up a whole new level of understanding into the operation of the PEACE of God in the life of every Christian… including both you and me!  If you remember last week’s blog post,* we discussed how the Apostle Paul encouraged his young protégé Timothy, in the daily leadership of the church at Ephesus, to:

“Stir up, fan into a flame and rekindle the fire of the spiritual GIFT God imparted to you when I laid my hands upon you.” (2 Timothy 1:6 KJV/TPT)

And as I continued to study this verse during the week, I learned upon researching the Greek work translated “GIFT”, that many Bible scholars comment on how that word actually refers to ALL the spiritual GIFTS.**

OKAY… So what?  Well… in the midst of my mediations upon this insight, I felt a leading to turn to Jesus’ introduction and discussion on the work of the Holy Spirit as found in John 14:15-31 when Jesus declared,

“I leave the GIFT of PEACE with you—my PEACE Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my PERFECT PEACE. So, don’t (allow yourselves to) yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!” (John 14:27 TPT - my personal parenthesis) 

And that’s when the spotlight went on in me!  After I read that instruction by Jesus, I immediately sat back in my desk chair and verbally declared:

“I have never seen that before… GRACE is actually a GIFT given to us by Jesus Himself!”

So… When I combine that instruction with Paul’s instructions to Timothy, that are still viable to us today, … I understood that God’s gift of PEACE is also one of the GIFTS that we can… and are commanded to “STIR UP, FAN INTO FLAME and REKINDLE” within us as well as into the situations of our daily lives!

Now, there are other common Bible translations that omit the word “GIFT” in John 14:27, but it is clearly inferred in the definition of the original Greek word “GIVE” as used in the King James Version of this scripture. (See: Thayer’s Greek Definitions).

So… What does that mean to you and me?

It means that we don’t always have to look for or be dependent on other people to bring comfort and PEACE into our lives.  I’m not saying that it is wrong to seek other people’s input in our lives… but there are many times and places where their assistance is just not accessible… but as a Christian, the GIFT of God’s PEACE is always available to you and me!

But… as with any other GIFT given to us, it is UP TO US to open it up, to turn it on, learn how to use it and then keep it in good working order.  After Piper and I bought our new home in North Carolina, I bought her a Bulova Pendulum Chiming Regulator Wall Clock as a sort of house warming GIFT.  We had admired these kinds of clocks for years, so I knew that she (and I) would thoroughly enjoy it.

Now, every time I look at that clock, prominently hanging in my living room, I think about Piper and the smile it brought to her face whenever she looked at it or listened to the Westminster chimes ringing on the hour throughout the day.  And even though we have had that clock over eight years now… I still have to pull up the online instructions twice a year to remind me how to change the time and reset the chimes when we spring ahead or fall back, depending on the season at hand.  Then a few months back, I had to change one set of batteries when the chimes went silent.

So… What’s my point?  In order to fully enjoy the benefits of the GIFT, I need to perform regular upkeep, refresh the different batteries as needed and adjust the volume or the tune if need be.

Well… the same can be said for the GIFT of PEACE that Jesus has given to us.  Just because we have it in us… doesn’t mean that it is automatically going to work when we need it to.  No, we have to keep it refreshed and in in good working order and then activate its power in our lives by our verbal praises, worship and obedience to the directions written down in God’s Owner’s Manual… The Word of God!

So… If you want to know why Jesus gave you and me His GIFT of PEACE?  Well then… Here’s a little bit of homework… Take out your Bible and look up John 16:33 for that answer!

With the CHRISTMAS season coming upon us, we will be talking some more about God’s GIFT of PEACE… for after all… Jesus is called The Prince of PEACE!

So… Have a peaceful weekend as you begin to STIR UP the GIFT of PEACE that Jesus has given us!  It is such a great GIFT that you are going to want to practice STIRRING IT UP every day!

Be Blessed!

 

* https://pjberruto.blogspot.com/2024/11/fanning-fire.html

**John Wesley’s Notes on the Bible; Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible