Dave Dishman

Peace rarely graces our world. A glance at the headlines reveals wars and rumors of wars. Politics emerges as a blood sport. Eminent doom haunts stories about the environment and population collapse. This week also featured a report about Christians in Ethiopia murdered for simply following Jesus. How do you discover peace amidst such clamor and calamity?

Jesus offered this thought to his disciples as he prepared them for his coming death: 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.

The peace and hope of Jesus given with a pledge of security. Not like our society that dangles peace only to snatch it away, or promises peace after aquiring enough money or clothes or clicks. Some philosophies offer peace by going deep within oneself. Perhaps there’s a kernel of truth there, but deep within myself is only me and my issues. I’m not sure what else I’ll find of value rummaging around in that basement.

The peace Jesus leaves comes from another source. The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

The Holy Spirit, indwelling all who follow Jesus, promises to teach the ways of Jesus. As we seek the Spirit with confession and humility, peace slowly emerges. Like dew on a misty morning, its presence comes as a wonderful source of amazement. With this hope in mind I find myself praying, Lord fill me with your peace, even as I make my way in this most un-peaceful world.

John 14:26-27

Photo by stenedit

I’m an early riser. As the days get shorter that means that I’m making coffee in the dark. Which is not a problem, as I enjoy the quiet before the rush of the day. Plus, I see the sun emerge on the horizon and I’m reminded of this promise:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

First light points to the unending love of the Lord, his boundless compassion and unparalleled fidelity. God is great, and every sunrise reminds me of that reality.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Photo by Elena Rabkina

The bank below our office plans to move later this year. Not enough traffic through this particular branch. The bank’s vault, however, will remain in place. My coworkers and I have been scheming about what to do with an empty vault. Store ministry materials? Lock up our snacks overnight? Use it for private calls, but will wireless signals penetrate the walls?

A vault protects tangible property. Cash, bonds, deeds, contracts, jewels and family heirlooms. We entrust important and valuable items to the safety of thick walls and strong locks. Fire cannot penetrate and thieves cannot break in and steal.

Peter wrote to a scattered audience suffering for their commitments to Jesus. He encouraged them to hang tough and reminded them of the vault in which their most valuable possession lay: Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

My soul pines for a place of depth and composure. The world around me offers fleeting pleasures, but my spirit skips from one to another like a moth fluttering against a bare bulb.

My eternal soul forms the most precious item in my possession. For this priceless asset the Lord offers a vault no thief breaches and no fire consumes. Only he knows the combination to the lock. If I hand over my soul to his care he guards it until the end of my days and beyond. I just have to walk in and make the deposit.

1 Peter 4:19

Photo by Jason Dent

The decline and fall of the twin nations of Israel and Judah took several generations. A people favored by God, led out of captivity by his own hand and blessed with abundant resources, they frittered away the Lord’s favor and protection.

At the end of the story a succinct recap appears: The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy.

The recipe for societal failure? Despise the words of God and mock his messengers. The Lord sent prophet after prophet to coax his people back. At times certain leaders reversed course, but these interludes proved short-lived. Eventually the whole mess got dumped in the trash.

Of course, not really the whole mess. A minority never left the Lord. A populace gone sour simply overwhelmed them. God eventually restored a remnant to Israel, but merely as citizens of a subjugated nation under the heels of others.

I find a personal lesson embedded in this ancient account. Today, as in antiquity, despising God’s words is madness. The Lord who was so patient and compassionate with his people back in the day carries the same patience and compassion to me. If I hold the words of God in contempt I invite disaster. If I embrace those same teachings I discover life. As always, it’s my choice.

2 Chronicles 16:15-16

Photo by Emir Aydın