April 4
Bible Reading: John 14:27
John 14:27, “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.”
“Long ago, a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally, the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered. Only two pictures remained veiled. As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner. A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power. A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.”
– A Wardrobe from the King, Berit Kjos, pp. 45-46.
Peace has always been an elusive dream for those who dwell on this trouble filled planet. Man instinctively yearns for the tranquility of soul that was lost to him because of the fall. St. Augustine once said, “Thou hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless until we find rest in Thee.” But to this day, the world works and plans and negotiates for peace, to no avail. There is a kind of peace that the world gives (John 14:27). It is of the temporary and circumstantial variety. It is insecure, easily forfeited, and never a tranquility of soul or sure antidote for the troubles that are sure to come.
Jesus promised to His disciples a peace of supernatural origin. The Greek word translated peace in this passage is “eirene”. According to Vine’s Expository it speaks of “the harmonized relationships between God and man, accomplished through the gospel…(and) the sense of rest and contentment consequent thereon.” The term is related to the Hebrew “shalom”, which refers to “a harmonious state of the soul” (Vine’s). Distinct from its worldly counterpart, Jesus promised to His disciples a tranquility of soul that was firmly rooted in their relationship with Him. It was a peace that He Himself would give to them.
It is as we abide in Jesus that we find true peace in this trouble-filled world (John 16:33). If we look for it elsewhere, we will surely be disappointment, but “there is a place of quiet rest near to the heart of God.” He can set a garrison about our troubled-prone hearts and minds that we might experience “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). He is our peace!
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”—Isaiah 26:3
HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW
Why should I feel discouraged,
Why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely,
And long for heav’n and home;
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant Friend is he;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know he watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know he watches me.
Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free;
For his eye is on the sparrow,
And I know he watches me.
“Let not your heart be troubled,”
His tender word I hear,
And resting on his goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path he leadeth,
But one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know he watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know he watches me. [Refrain]
Whenever I am tempted,
Whenever clouds arise;
When songs give place to sighing,
When hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to him,
From care he sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know he watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know he watches me. [Refrain]
