Finding True Peace and Faith in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Christ’s Peace Overcomes Fear and Brings Joy

On the evening of the resurrection, the disciples were gathered behind locked doors, gripped by fear and uncertainty. Yet, Jesus appeared among them and spoke words of peace, showing them his hands and side as proof of his victory over death. His presence transformed their fear into gladness, and his repeated blessing of peace assured them that, even in the midst of turmoil, his peace is greater than any fear. This peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of Christ himself, who enters into our closed spaces and brings hope and joy. [57:07]

John 20:19-21 (ESV)
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel locked in by fear or uncertainty, and how might you invite Christ’s peace to enter those places today?

Day 2: Faith Beyond Sight—Blessed Are Those Who Believe

Thomas doubted the resurrection until he could see and touch Jesus’ wounds for himself. When Jesus appeared again, he invited Thomas to believe, saying, “Do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas’ confession, “My Lord and my God,” was met with Jesus’ blessing for all who believe without seeing. This teaches that faith is not limited to physical evidence; rather, those who trust in Christ’s promises are especially blessed, even when they have not seen him with their own eyes. [58:25]

John 20:27-29 (ESV)
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Reflection: What is one area where you struggle to trust God without visible proof, and how can you take a step of faith in that area today?

Day 3: The Gift and Power of Forgiveness

After breathing the Holy Spirit upon his disciples, Jesus entrusted them with the authority to forgive sins, emphasizing the importance and power of forgiveness in the life of the Church. This gift is not only a responsibility but a means of extending Christ’s mercy and reconciliation to others. Forgiveness is central to the Christian life, both in receiving it from God and in offering it to those around us, breaking the chains of resentment and opening the way for healing and peace. [57:51]

John 20:22-23 (ESV)
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Reflection: Is there someone you need to forgive or seek forgiveness from today, and how can you take a concrete step toward reconciliation?

Day 4: Committing Our Whole Life to Christ

Throughout the prayers, there is a repeated call to “commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.” This act of surrender is not a one-time event but a daily offering, entrusting every aspect of our lives—our joys, struggles, relationships, and future—into God’s loving hands. Such commitment brings peace and purpose, as we recognize that our lives are safest and most fruitful when yielded to Christ’s care and direction. [45:57]

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Reflection: What is one area of your life you have been holding back from God, and how can you intentionally commit it to Christ today?

Day 5: Praying for Peace and Unity in the World

The prayers lift up not only personal needs but also the needs of the world: for peace from above, for the unity of the Church, for civil authorities, for favorable weather, for the sick and suffering, and for all people everywhere. This broad intercession reflects the heart of God, who desires peace, justice, and unity for all creation. As followers of Christ, we are called to pray earnestly for the world, trusting that God hears and responds to the cries of his people. [44:45]

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Reflection: Who or what in your community or the world most needs your prayers for peace and unity today, and how will you lift them up before God?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered in the peace of Christ, lifting our hearts in prayer for the world, the Church, and every soul seeking God’s mercy. We remembered that true peace comes from above, not from our own efforts, and that our unity as believers is rooted in the grace and love of God. We prayed for our leaders, our communities, and for all who suffer or are in need, trusting that God’s compassion extends to every corner of creation. In our prayers, we invoked the intercessions of the Theotokos, the saints, and all who have gone before us in faith, committing ourselves and one another wholly to Christ.

The Gospel reading from John reminded us of the risen Christ’s first words to his fearful disciples: “Peace be with you.” Even behind locked doors, Jesus entered their midst, showing his wounds and breathing the Holy Spirit upon them. He commissioned them to continue his mission, granting them the authority to forgive sins. The story of Thomas, who doubted until he saw and touched the risen Lord, speaks to the struggle of faith and the blessing pronounced on those who believe without seeing. This encounter is not just about doubt, but about the invitation to deeper trust and the life that comes from believing in Jesus as the Christ.

We reflected on the mystery of Christ’s incarnation, his suffering, death, and resurrection, and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the Church. The prayers and hymns called us to a life of repentance, peace, and unity, urging us to seek forgiveness, to love one another, and to confess Christ with one mind and heart. The Eucharist was celebrated as the source and summit of our life in Christ, a participation in his body and blood for the remission of sins and the life of the world. We concluded by invoking God’s blessing and mercy, remembering the saints, and entrusting ourselves to the Lord’s loving care, confident that his kingdom, power, and glory endure forever.

Key Takeaways

1. True peace is a gift from God, not something we manufacture. In a world filled with anxiety and division, we are called to seek the peace that comes from above, which surpasses all understanding and unites us as one body in Christ. This peace is both a comfort and a calling, inviting us to become instruments of reconciliation in our families, communities, and the world. [44:45]
2. The risen Christ enters into our fears and locked places, offering his presence and his wounds as proof of his love. Even when we are closed off by doubt or pain, Jesus comes to us, speaking peace and breathing new life through the Holy Spirit. His resurrection is not just a past event, but a present reality that transforms our lives and empowers us to forgive and be forgiven. [57:07]
3. The story of Thomas challenges us to move beyond skepticism to a living faith. While honest questions are part of the journey, Jesus invites us to trust in him even when we cannot see or touch. The blessing is pronounced on those who believe without seeing, reminding us that faith is a relationship of trust, not just intellectual assent, and that in believing, we find true life. [58:25]
4. Our prayers for the world, the Church, and all in need are not empty words, but acts of intercession that participate in God’s ongoing work of salvation. By lifting up the suffering, the leaders, and the faithful, we join in Christ’s priestly ministry, trusting that God’s mercy is at work even when we cannot see the results. This intercessory life shapes us into a people of compassion and hope. [45:35]
5. The Eucharist is the heart of our life together, a mystery in which we receive Christ’s body and blood for the forgiveness of sins and the renewal of our souls. In this sacrament, we are united with Christ and with one another, called to live in gratitude, humility, and love. The table of the Lord is both a foretaste of the kingdom and a call to embody his self-giving love in the world. [73:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[44:45] - Prayers for Peace and Unity
[45:35] - Intercession for the World and the Suffering
[45:57] - Committing Ourselves to Christ
[51:13] - Seeking Wisdom and Attentiveness
[56:45] - Proclamation of the Holy Gospel
[57:07] - Jesus Appears to the Disciples
[57:51] - The Doubt and Faith of Thomas
[58:25] - Blessed Are Those Who Believe
[58:54] - The Purpose of the Gospel
[66:55] - Offering and Prayers for Deliverance
[67:41] - Prayers for Guidance and Forgiveness
[68:12] - Praying for a Peaceful End
[69:06] - Confession of Faith and Love
[73:01] - The Eucharist: Body and Blood of Christ
[76:30] - Prayers for Unity and the Holy Spirit
[88:48] - Thanksgiving and Blessing
[89:42] - Remembering the Saints and Apostles
[92:37] - Final Blessing and Sending Forth

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 20:19-31 (ESV) — _On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name._

Observation Questions

What were the disciples doing and feeling when Jesus first appeared to them after his resurrection? ([57:07])
How did Jesus greet his disciples, and what did he show them to prove who he was? ([57:07])
What did Jesus do and say to the disciples after he greeted them? ([57:07])
How did Thomas respond when the other disciples told him they had seen the Lord? What did he say he needed in order to believe? ([57:51])

Interpretation Questions

The disciples were behind locked doors out of fear, yet Jesus came and stood among them. What does this say about Jesus’ ability to enter into our fears and closed places? ([57:07])
Jesus breathed on the disciples and gave them the Holy Spirit, commissioning them to forgive sins. What does this tell us about the mission Jesus gives to his followers? ([57:07])
Thomas doubted until he saw and touched Jesus’ wounds. Why do you think Jesus allowed Thomas to see and touch him, and what does this teach us about doubt and faith? ([58:25])
Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” What kind of faith is Jesus describing here, and why is it important? ([58:25])

Application Questions

The sermon said that true peace is a gift from God, not something we manufacture. In what areas of your life are you trying to create your own peace? How can you open yourself to receive the peace that comes from above this week? ([44:45])
Jesus entered into the disciples’ fears and locked doors. Are there “locked doors” or fears in your life where you need to invite Jesus in? What would it look like to let him enter those places? ([57:07])
The story of Thomas shows that honest questions are part of the journey of faith. Is there an area where you are struggling to trust God because you can’t see or understand? How can you bring your doubts to Jesus honestly, like Thomas did? ([58:25])
The sermon talked about praying for the world, the Church, and all in need as acts of intercession. Who is someone in your life or in the world that you feel called to pray for this week? How can you make intercessory prayer a regular part of your life? ([45:35])
The Eucharist was described as the heart of our life together, uniting us with Christ and one another. How does participating in the Eucharist (or remembering Christ’s sacrifice) shape your attitude toward others in the church and in your daily life? ([01:13:01])
The sermon called us to seek forgiveness, love one another, and confess Christ with one mind and heart. Is there someone you need to forgive or seek forgiveness from? What step can you take this week toward reconciliation? ([01:09:06])
Jesus commissioned his disciples to continue his mission and empowered them with the Holy Spirit. What is one way you can be an instrument of peace or reconciliation in your family, workplace, or community this week? ([57:07])

Sermon Clips

Let us pray to the Lord for the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls. Let us pray to the Lord, Lord, for the peace in the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God and for the unity of all. [00:44:09]

Let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God. [00:46:08]

Let us pray to the Lord, to our God who loves, loves mankind. [01:07:02]

And to our God who loves, loves mankind. Have he accepted them and is holy super heavenly. [01:07:07]

For this holy house and for those who enter with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord for our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity. [01:07:13]

Help us, save us, have mercy on us. And protect us, us, O God, by your grace, that the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless. [01:07:31]

That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless. Let us ask of the Lord. Angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies. Let us ask of the Lord, forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions. Let us ask of the Lord those things which are good and beneficial to our souls and for peace in the world. Let us ask of the Lord. [01:07:38]

Complete the remaining time of our lives in peace and repentance. Let us ask of the Lord. Christian end to our lives, painless, unashamed, peaceful, in a good defense before the fearsome judgment seat of Christ. [01:08:09]

Through the compassion of your only begotten Son, with whom you are blessed, together with your all who holy, good and life giving spirit, now and ever into the ages of ages. [01:08:45]

Let us love one another, that with one mind we may confess Christ is in our midst. I will love you, Lord. [01:09:06]

Let us love one another, that with one mind we may confess Christ is in our midst. [01:09:06]

Let us stand well. Let us stand with fear. Let us be attentive. The holy offering is being presented in peace. [01:10:53]

Let us lift up our heart. Let us give thanks unto the Lord Singing the victorious hymn, shouting out, proclaiming and saying. [01:11:28]

And grant that with one mouth and one heart we may glorify and praise your all honored and magnificent name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever. [01:16:21]

Having commemorated all the saints again and again in peace. Let us pray to the Lord for the precious gifts offered and sanctified. Let us pray to the Lord that our God who loves mankind, who has received them. [01:16:44]

Having prayed for the unity of the faith and for the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God. [01:17:09]

And make us worthy master, that with confidence and without condemnation we may dare to call upon you, the heavenly God as Father. [01:17:20]

Let us bow our heads to the Lord through the grace, compassion and love for mankind of your own begotten Son, with whom you are blessed, together with your all holy good and life giving Spirit, now and ever into the ages of ages. [01:18:08]

Let us pray to the Lord.The blessing of the Lord and his mercy come upon you through his divine grace, grace and love for mankind.Always, now and ever into the ages of ages. [01:29:27]

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