Many of you know that we are grateful to Fr Christopher Logan for creating a YouTube channel for New Creation Healing Center. He also often preaches at the midweek service (Wednesday 12:15 pm if you would like to join us!) and shared a sermon on peace that is reflected in this article
The Peace of God
A COLLECT FOR PEACE Tuesday
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
What is Peace?
Peace is more than the absence of conflict, in face you can experience God’s peace in any situation. It is more than a feeling, it is a person: Jesus Christ. J.C. Ryle once wrote:
“Peace with God is a calm, intelligent sense of friendship with the Lord of heaven and earth. He that has it, feels as if there was no barrier and separation between himself and his holy Maker. He can think of himself as under the eye of an all-seeing Being, and yet not feel afraid.”
Relationship is the key to finding God’s peace. We must seek Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. Nothing can disrupt that relationship except for us, we need to do our part. God promises that He will never leave us, therefore we should never leave him. There is much that can distract us. St. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:
5 Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God.
Jesus lived a life devoted to prayer. In His temptation, we see that Jesus went to the wilderness to commune with God and was able to defeat the devil. On the Mount of Olives, He was able to resist the devil again and found the courage to face the cross. We can read in the Bible that His time in the wilderness would establish a pattern of prayer that Jesus would continue until His ascension. Jesus is the perfect example of peace.
We must obey God and constantly seek Him. The Holy Spirit will guide us, but we must listen to Him. We cannot allow ourselves to be distracted by material things that will fade away, it is Jesus that will always stay with us and love us more than we could ever know.
There are four things that are essential to maintaining that relationship with Jesus and bring us true peace:
- Read your Bible and follow its teachings.
- Go to church and receive the Sacrament.
- Pray, Give your problems to Jesus.
- Confess/Discern.
May the Peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge of God.
