Love God Greatly: BeatitudesНамуна

The peace we hope for, practice in our communities, and expect to see realized in eternity is not the hope of the world. As Jesus prepares to leave His disciples, what initially sounds like a typical Jewish goodbye, "Peace I leave with you," means so much more. In Hebrew, this word "shalom" carries much deeper connotations than our English word "peace." It means flourishing, wholeness, a world that works the way it is supposed to work. 

Jesus gives His followers great hope here. The peace the world gives looks like domination, war, and destruction. The Roman empire would maintain its peace by defeating anyone who dared to defy them. Our world today similarly seeks peace in violent and destructive ways. This is nothing like the peace Jesus promises us. We do not need to be troubled or afraid because the ways of this world will end, and real flourishing will come. Our hope is not found in conquest or supremacy, but in seeking the true wholeness of a broken world. 

God, thank You for Your promise of peace. Calm my heart and ease my anxieties. Teach my heart to seek the kind of peace You promise.