Jesus said in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
We must learn to rule our spirits by partaking of things that minister peace, not only to our own spirits, but also to the spirits of those around us.
Men, I think that one of the greatest things that possessed the life and body of Jesus when He walked this earth was His peace. What consciously and unconsciously attracted people to Him? Was it is zeal for righteousness and holiness? Was it His ability and power to heal the sick and raise the dead? Was it is His message of love? All these were attractive attributes of Jesus and it would be wrong to say that one was greater than the other.
However, in this troubled world, people long for peace. The hymn writer expressed this quest for peace when he penned the words:
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
In a world full of challenges and strife that can so easily take control of our spirits, we must partake liberally of the things that enable peace to rule our hearts.
When Jesus beheld the city of Jerusalem, He wept over it “Saying, if thou hadst known even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes” (Luke 19:41, 42). The Prince of Peace walked their streets and entered their temple, but they rejected Him. In doing so they rejected His peace, not only externally for the city and temple that would soon be destroyed, but they rejected His inward peace which is far greater.
The peace of God must be the internal ruler of our spirits. When peace controls our spirits, no matter what chaos happens around us, we are like the eye in the midst of the storm. The eye of the storm is a peaceful place.
Jerusalem means City of Peace (Hebrews 7:2). How amazing that the City of Peace rejected the Prince of Peace and instead received destruction.
We men must also receive Christ with open arms to rule our spirits. In this matter we must be most diligent.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell