Religion: A Pastor Ponders

Peace

By Pastor William Jenkins

March 28, 2007

In the Upper Room at the Last Supper, with trouble lurking outside the door, Jesus spoke about peace:

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

“These things have I spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33)

Imagine a massive hurricane raging over the ocean. On the surface of the sea the violent winds whip the water into giant waves and create a scene of havoc and chaos. Yet, there are two places where the storm is impotent. It is impotent a mere 20 feet below the surface. There the waters are clear and calm. The fish go on living their lives totally unaware of the thunderous tumult just above them. The storm is also impotent at it’s center, in the “eye”.

So it is in the Christian life. Where there is ‘depth’ of relationship with Christ, there is peace; and where we are centered in Christ there is peace. Peace, therefore, is not the absence of conflict it is the presence of Christ. The presence of Christ subdues our illicit passions, controls our wrong desires, consoles our deepest sorrows, imparts our greatest joy, and gives us courage to face anything that is lurking outside the door.

John Greenleaf Whittier wrote these words we sing from time to time:

“Drop Thy still dews of quietness, till all our strivings cease;
“Take from our souls the strain and stress,
“And let our ordered lives confess, the Beauty of Thy peace.”

League City United Methodist Church is located at 1411 Main Street (FM 518), one block east of Interstate 45. For information, call the church offices at 281-332-1557 or visit the website at

HYPERLINK - http://www.lcumc.org