Finding True Peace Through Jesus Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Peace is a Gift from God

True peace cannot be earned through our actions or righteousness. The story of Simeon in Luke 2:22-33 illustrates this truth. Simeon was a righteous and devout man who waited his entire life to see the Messiah. Despite his devoutness, he did not find peace until he encountered Jesus. This encounter transformed his life, allowing him to depart in peace. This teaches us that true peace is a gift from God, not a reward for our actions. We cannot fabricate peace through our efforts; it comes from surrendering our lives to Jesus and making Him the center of our existence. [16:36]

Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

Reflection: Think about an area in your life where you are striving to create peace through your own efforts. How can you surrender this area to Jesus and trust Him to provide the peace you seek?

Day 2: Jesus is the Center of True Peace

Simeon's peace came from meeting Jesus, not from his righteous behavior or devoutness. This highlights the importance of making Jesus the center of our lives. When we surrender to Him, we find the peace that surpasses all understanding. Simeon's story reminds us that our efforts to be righteous and devout are not what bring us peace; it is our relationship with Jesus that does. By making Jesus the center of our lives, we can experience true peace that is not dependent on our circumstances or actions. [47:12]

Colossians 3:15 (ESV): "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."

Reflection: Reflect on your daily routine. What is one practical step you can take to make Jesus the center of your life today?

Day 3: Peace in the Present

Despite the chaos and challenges we face, Jesus offers us peace right now. The testimony of Claudia's mother, who defied medical expectations through prayer, illustrates that God's peace is available in our most difficult moments. Whether it's family issues, financial strains, or personal struggles, Jesus is there to calm the storms in our lives. We can trust Him to provide peace in the midst of our trials and tribulations. This peace is not just for the future but is available to us in the present moment. [01:31:50]

John 14:27 (ESV): "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

Reflection: Identify a current challenge or chaotic situation in your life. How can you invite Jesus into this situation to experience His peace today?

Day 4: Eternal Peace for the Future

Our future is secure in Jesus, and this assurance should give us great comfort and hope. We are heirs with Christ, destined to dwell with Him forever, free from pain, sickness, and sorrow. This eternal perspective helps us navigate the trials of this life with peace. Knowing that our future is secure in Jesus allows us to face our present challenges with a sense of hope and confidence. This eternal peace is a promise that we can hold onto, giving us strength and comfort in our daily lives. [01:35:21]

Revelation 21:4 (ESV): "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

Reflection: How does the promise of eternal peace with Jesus change the way you view your current struggles? What steps can you take to remind yourself of this promise daily?

Day 5: Surrender Brings Peace

True peace comes when we surrender our mess to Jesus and commit to living in His will. Trying to get God to bless our brokenness will not bring peace. Instead, we must submit to God's ways and trust in His grace to experience the peace that only He can provide. Surrendering to Jesus means letting go of our own plans and desires and trusting that His ways are better. This act of surrender allows us to experience the peace that comes from knowing we are in His hands and that He is in control. [01:17:25]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to celebrate and honor the faithfulness of God, and to pray for the Edwards family as they embark on a new journey. We welcomed everyone, both in person and online, and extended a special greeting to our guests. We also took a moment to dismiss our children to their service and shared updates on various church activities, including our involvement with Operation Christmas Child and our upcoming backpack distribution event.

The core of today's message centered on the theme of peace—peace for our past, present, and future. We explored the story of Simeon from Luke 2:22-33, who waited his entire life to see the Messiah and found peace only when he met Jesus. This story teaches us that true peace cannot be earned through our actions or righteousness; it is a gift from God that we receive through Jesus Christ.

We discussed how Jesus is the center of true peace. Simeon, despite being righteous and devout, did not find peace until he encountered Jesus. This encounter transformed his life, allowing him to depart in peace. Similarly, we cannot fabricate peace through our efforts; it comes from surrendering our lives to Jesus and making Him the center of our existence.

We also touched on the importance of peace in our present lives. Despite the chaos and challenges we face—whether it's family issues, financial strains, or personal struggles—Jesus offers us peace right now. We shared a powerful testimony of Claudia's mother, who defied medical expectations through the power of prayer, illustrating that God's peace is available to us in our most difficult moments.

Finally, we looked forward to the eternal peace that Jesus promises. Our future is secure in Him, and this assurance should give us great comfort and hope. We are heirs with Christ, destined to dwell with Him forever, free from pain, sickness, and sorrow.

###

Key Takeaways

1. 33 shows us that peace is not something we can achieve through our own efforts or righteousness. Despite being devout and righteous, Simeon found peace only when he encountered Jesus. This teaches us that true peace is a gift from God, not a reward for our actions. [16:36]
2. Jesus is the Center of True Peace: Simeon's peace came from meeting Jesus, not from his righteous behavior or devoutness. This highlights the importance of making Jesus the center of our lives. When we surrender to Him, we find the peace that surpasses all understanding.

3. Peace in the Present: Despite the chaos and challenges we face, Jesus offers us peace right now. The testimony of Claudia's mother, who defied medical expectations through prayer, illustrates that God's peace is available in our most difficult moments. We can trust Jesus to calm the storms in our lives.

4. Eternal Peace for the Future: Our future is secure in Jesus, and this assurance should give us great comfort and hope. We are heirs with Christ, destined to dwell with Him forever, free from pain, sickness, and sorrow. This eternal perspective helps us navigate the trials of this life with peace.

5. Surrender Brings Peace: True peace comes when we surrender our mess to Jesus and commit to living in His will. Trying to get God to bless our brokenness will not bring peace. Instead, we must submit to God's ways and trust in His grace to experience the peace that only He can provide.

### [16:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[16:36] - Prayer for the Edwards Family
[19:32] - Greeting and Welcome
[20:11] - Online Viewers Greeting
[20:43] - New Guests Introduction
[21:45] - Kids Dismissal and Prayer
[22:29] - Church Announcements
[25:07] - Operation Christmas Child
[34:39] - Giving Challenge
[46:38] - Saying Yes to Jesus
[52:07] - Backpack Distribution Event
[56:48] - Fall Season Reflections
[67:09] - Simeon's Story and Peace
[91:50] - Testimony of Claudia's Mother
[95:21] - Peace for the Future
[105:50] - Invitation to Accept Jesus
[111:23] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was Simeon waiting for, and how did he find peace? (Luke 2:25-26)
How did Simeon react when he saw Jesus, and what did he say? (Luke 2:28-32)
According to the sermon, what is the significance of Simeon's encounter with Jesus in terms of finding true peace? [01:07:09]
What testimony was shared in the sermon to illustrate peace in the present? [01:31:50]

Interpretation Questions

Why is it significant that Simeon was described as righteous and devout, yet he did not find peace until he met Jesus? [01:08:44]
How does the story of Simeon illustrate the idea that true peace cannot be earned through our actions or righteousness? [01:08:44]
What does it mean to make Jesus the center of our lives in order to find true peace, according to the sermon? [01:13:39]
How does the testimony of Claudia's mother serve as an example of experiencing God's peace in difficult moments? [01:31:50]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you tried to find peace through your own efforts. How did that compare to the peace you experience when you surrender to Jesus? [01:08:44]
In what areas of your life do you need to make Jesus the center to experience true peace? What steps can you take this week to surrender those areas to Him? [01:13:39]
How can you apply the lesson from Claudia's mother's testimony to a current challenge you are facing? What specific prayers or actions can you take to invite God's peace into that situation? [01:31:50]
Think about a past mistake or regret that still affects you. How can you embrace the peace that Jesus offers for your past and move forward with confidence? [01:22:55]
Identify a current struggle or source of anxiety in your life. How can you trust Jesus to calm the storm and bring peace into that situation? [01:29:55]
How does the assurance of eternal peace with Jesus change your perspective on present difficulties? What practical ways can you remind yourself of this eternal perspective daily? [01:35:21]
What specific actions can you take this week to live out the peace of God in your interactions with others, especially in challenging relationships or situations? [01:18:59]

Sermon Clips

1. "You know, when you say yes to Jesus, you're not just saying yes to easy road ahead or more money or necessarily a fun, exciting season. Sometimes when you say yes to Jesus, there's other things that come across your path. When you say yes to Jesus, what's happening is when you go through something, when you're walking through something, you're saying yes to Jesus being with you on the path." [46:38] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Peace does not come from convincing God to sterilize or bless our brokenness. Peace will come when we surrender our mess to Jesus. Peace will come when we commit to living in his will instead of living in our will. There is absolutely a powerful exchange of peace when we choose to submit to God's will and to God's ways and to God's word." [01:18:59] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We all want the peace of God today, amen? We all want to have peaceful homes and lives, peace in our jobs, and ultimately we all want to know that we have peace with God. Don't we all ultimately want to know that we are good with God? Who doesn't want that, right? We want peace with God, but we cannot earn that peace. We can't have peace with God by being a good guy, a righteous person, by being super devout at church and in our religious practices." [01:10:29] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "There are so many reasons we can live this life without peace. Frankly, there are so many things happening around us right now that would steal our peace. We're still engaged in, you know, war on the other side of the planet. Our political leaders are wrestling hard through a presidential race. Medical bills cause stress. Family drama. Perhaps you're in the thick of a hectic work schedule. Getting everything wrapped up as a family, as school begins in a few weeks." [01:01:35] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "What about knowing and having real peace? What about being known by the one who the Bible calls the Prince of Peace or the God of Peace? What about finding eternal peace with God and knowing him as our source of true peace? Peace for our past, peace in our present, and peace for all of our eternal future. Are we secure in the peace of God? The peace that comes from God?" [01:03:20] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "I want to speak to you on this idea. Peace right now. Peace right now. Say that with me. Peace right now. Look to your neighbor. Say it. Peace, not later, but right now. How many of you could use a little peace right now as a parent, as a employee at your job, as a student?" [56:48] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "I love Jesus' response to the disciples in the boat. He says, why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? When we look at our circumstances, when our money's getting thin, when we're questioning whether or not we should have made that move or not, when we're questioning whether or not we should have accepted that position, or our relationships are crumbling. When I look at the realities facing our church or the challenges in leading, He's the one who's leading." [01:29:55] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Christ came to bring peace for our past. Peace for our past. There are many of us, if we are to be honest, we live our entire present lives with some sort of regret or shame for areas in our past. What's difficult for many of us is to truly believe that God doesn't carry that shame or even remembrance either. We know the old adage, forgive and forget, right? But it's very difficult to do that. But what we see in the Savior, Jesus, is the forgiveness of sins." [01:20:56] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "I want you to commit to him as a source of your peace. Jesus Christ has come to bring peace for your past. You are forgiven. You're not being cursed for past mistakes. You have met the grace of God, and that sin is forgotten by him. Jesus Christ has come to bring peace for your present, for your right now. There is nothing in this world, that is greater than our God. His mercy and grace are real and evident in our lives and in his church." [01:40:49] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "We can't earn it, but we can receive it. Like Simeon, even the best among us, the most righteous and holy are in desperate need of the Lord's peace. We can't earn what only God can give. The second thing today, outside of learning and realizing that we cannot earn God's peace, is this. Jesus is the center of true peace. Jesus is the center of true peace." [01:12:09] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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