Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Let’s continue hearing from the LORD about His followers discord. Today He reminds us to know His peace.

Today’s scripture, Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) exhorts…
[6] Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Consider…
One of the loudest clarion calls made by disenfranchised people is “no justice, no peace”. The irony of the call is that justice is about equitable treatment, thus if everyone was treated badly it would by definition be justice. Yet, I submit peace still wouldn’t exist. Thus I believe what people want most in their cry for peace is relief from the what they’re experiencing.

This reminds me of the familiar story of Peter walking on water. Let’s read it again from Matthew 14:29-33 (NLT)…
[29] “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. [30] But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. [31] Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” [32] When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. [33] Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

To properly set the scene, I must remind you the disciples had just witnessed Jesus feed 5000 with 2 fish and five loaves of bread. They were also following Jesus’ direction and going where He told them to go. You would think the disciples who had seen Jesus do so many miracles would never worry about doing anything Jesus told them to do.

Yet we learn a valuable lesson from them in this storm situation. Everything was sunny and peaceful when they first started their journey of obedience to the other side. There was no hesitation or wondering, just eager anticipation of what was on the other side. Then turmoil happened and they lost focus on where they were going and Who was sending them.

I submit the same is true for many of us believers today. Trusting God in peacetime is easy, but when there’s a war going on we lose focus on what’s on the other side and Who is sending us.

The first bit of good news in the midst of the disciples storm is Jesus revealed Himself to them. The good news in our storms is Jesus still reveals Himself.

Next we see the pivotal moment, Peter thought it was Jesus but sought proof. We know that because in Matthew 14:28 (NLT) we read…
[28] Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

This tells me that Peter didn’t fully trust that who he saw and heard was truly the Jesus he knew. How many of us are just like Peter?

Fortunately, we see Jesus’ loving graceful response to let Peter prove to himself that it was Him. Again, Jesus still lovingly and gracefully allows us to prove to ourselves it’s Him that we are seeing and hearing. But I must admit that’s not Jesus’ preference. In John 20:29 (NLT) He told His disciple Thomas…
[29] …“You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Jesus wants us to believe Him because we know Him, not because we see or hear Him. It’s true that He wants us to follow what we see He did, and do what He’s told us to do. However, regardless of what He shows or tells us, He wants us to believe Him.

What do I mean? If He tells or shows us He’s allowing…

• Terminal illness, He wants us to still believe He’s Jehovah-Rapha, our healer.
• Financial distress, He wants us to still believe He’s Jehovah-Jireh, God who is our provider.
• Beaten and worn, He wants us to still believe He’s Jehovah-Nissi, God who fights our battles.
• The storms to keep on raging in our lives, He is still Jehovah-Shalom, God who is our peace.

In fact the last bullet reminds me of John 16:33 (NLT), where Jesus said…
[33] I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Jesus tells us point blank, we’re going to go through things, but we can have peace in Him!

That emphasizes today’s title, ‘know God, know peace’!

The last thing the Holy Spirit showed me is how God makes us right when things go wrong. Recall Peter was walking on the water while looking at Jesus, but when he shifted his attention to what was wrong around him he began to sink.

That makes me think of the hymn lyrics…

I was sinking deep in sin,
Far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within,
Sinking to rise no more;
But the Master of the sea
Heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me–
Now safe am I.

All my heart to Him I give,
Ever to Him I’ll cling,
In His blessed presence live,
Ever His praises sing.
Love so mighty and so true
Merits my soul’s best songs;
Faithful, loving service, too,
To Him belongs.

Souls in danger, look above,
Jesus completely saves;
He will lift you by His love
Out of the angry waves.
He’s the Master of the sea,
Billows His will obey;
He your Savior wants to be–
Be saved today.

Then I remember how Jesus lovingly and gracefully grabbed Peter and safely returned to the boat, which reminds me of the hymn refrain…

Love lifted me,
Love lifted me,
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me;
Love lifted me,
Love lifted me,
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me.

Jesus, God’s gift of love, still lifts us today! Yet when He does, I believe He says the same thing that He told Peter…
“You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

Doubt is the nemesis of faith, and it leads to worry which is the nemesis of peace. Thus when we have faith in the God we know, we’ll know the peace He gives.

So again I encourage you to know God and know His peace!

Bonus thought: God isn’t focused on our justice, instead He’s focused on our justification! (Romans 3:22-24)

Today’s song is…
Peace

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)