Today Daily Devotional

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”

— John 14:27

To me, one of the fascinating things about the English language is homonyms—words that sound the same but have a different spelling and meaning. A good example of a homonym phrase is in the saying “No Jesus, no peace—know Jesus, know peace.”

Besides being a catchphrase for a t-shirt or bumper sticker, this statement reflects a profound biblical truth. In tumultuous times we long for peace, but without Jesus such inner harmony is impossible.

In today’s passage Jesus calls on all who love him to obey his teaching. This obedience comes as a direct result of knowing Jesus and fellowshipping with him. The Holy Spirit comes into our lives in order to keep us securely grounded in the teaching of Jesus.

The peace that Jesus promises is much more than a wish for an end to war, or even for emotional calm and quiet. Rather, it brings an inner tranquillity and harmony rooted in the very essence of our caring Savior.

The power of the peace that Jesus gives us is such that we don’t have to be troubled or scared. Regardless of what may be happening in our lives, we can be at peace because we know that the love of Jesus is always stronger.

Father, we praise you for peace that we can enjoy in your Son, Jesus Christ. In his name we pray. Amen.

Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.

— Jeremiah 17:14

Yesterday I shared about my grandfather who had fought in World War II and was badly wounded. A shell exploded close to his position, and he was hit with many pieces of shrapnel.

Later, in a makeshift hospital, a surgeon took out the bigger shell fragments. But smaller ones were left in my grand­father’s body for the rest of his life. As a result, he had difficulty passing through security scanners because pieces of metal under his skin would set off alarms.

Most of us do not experience such dramatic events in our lives. But we may carry bits and pieces of our traumas from the past. In our media ministry we often hear from people who cannot enjoy their life fully because of severe hurts they experienced years ago. Their wounds can still set off alarms in their daily living.

The Bible teaches us to turn to the Lord in every situation—particularly in our hurts and struggles. Though we may be in pain or feel haunted by old memories, God is closer than we realize. Like the prophet Jeremiah, we can lean on the Lord in faith.

Intellectually we may know that the Lord heals and saves. But when we trust him fully, his salvation and peace become our personal reality.

Father, set us free from the burdens of old traumas and bitter memories. Give us a heart of praise by assuring us of your love and salvation in Jesus. Amen.

Neither death nor life . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

— Romans 8:38-39

My grandfather Ivan fought in World War II as a machine-gun operator. He was badly wounded in a battle. He survived, but for a long time it seemed as if his Christian faith did not.

He grew up as a Christian but claimed to have lost his faith after seeing the horrors of war. Yet toward the end of his life he began reading the Bible to his wife, my grandmother, who had become very sick. And he rediscovered God’s grace and found peace with Jesus.

Our passage today reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of God that comes to us through his Son, Jesus Christ. Neither death nor life, nor supernatural ­powers, nothing in the present nor the future, not a single created thing—nothing can separate us from God’s love!

Many Christians who formally accept the teaching of God’s love may still have fears about losing God’s salvation and ­favor. But even in the midst of the most terrible struggles of life, we can be reassured that the Lord is with us. Gently he is holding us in his hand. When God loves us in Christ, he loves us forever.

Have you put your trust in God? Have you found his peace?

Father, we praise you for your unfailing love for us in Jesus Christ. With your Spirit make us lean on you fully as the Creator and Sustainer of our faith. Amen.

“Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.”

— Luke 12:51

Abdullah is a young man who lives in a predominantly Mus­lim country in central Asia. Several years ago he lost his parents and two of his siblings, so at times he feels very lonely. His family members did not die, however. They and other Muslim relatives turned away when Abdullah became a follower of Jesus.

Sadly, Abdullah’s story is not uncommon. Many Christians throughout the world suffer from strained family relations because of their faith. Even if we live in a religiously tolerant society, we can experience rejection or misunderstanding by family members, friends, and neighbors because we follow Jesus.

Our reading for today may sound shocking, but it rings true for many Christians. Jesus is being fully transparent here. Having faith in Christ will bring divisions and disrupt our relationships with relatives and friends who are not believers. Faith gives us many blessings, but it can also strain our relations with loved ones.

Jesus knows what we are going through. He personally experienced misunderstandings by family members and friends. He sends his Spirit to give us inner peace, and he encourages us to reflect God’s love to all who do not understand our devotion to him. The Spirit guides us daily. And once he breaks down people’s resistance to God, our relationships are easier to repair.

Father, thank you for your Spirit, who comforts us when we are rejected because of your name. Help us to witness to all who don’t know you. Amen.

Though . . . the fields produce no food . . . yet I will rejoice in the Lord . . . in God my Savior.

— Habakkuk 3:17-18

After watching the daily news, our media listener Natasha shot us a note: “How can I find peace and joy in the midst of what’s going on today?”

Perhaps you find yourself asking the same question as you follow the news or receive a worrisome personal update. How do you respond to bad news and reports of trouble and struggle in so many ­places? What happens to your walk with the Lord?

Today we turn to one of the most powerful affirmations of faith in all of Scripture. Faced with news of an upcoming war, the prophet Habakkuk anticipates food shortages and hunger throughout the land. But in the face of such calamity, he declares that he will still rejoice in God his Savior. External circumstances are not going to stop him from finding personal peace and joy in the Lord.

As Christians, we can rejoice in the midst of the most challenging circumstances because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Even in the toughest of times—such as having to look death in the face—we know that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).

In the midst of bad news and hard times, never forget that God loves us, no matter what. By his Spirit he comforts us. He is always in full control of our lives. That joyful reality gives us peace even in the most difficult of times.

Lord, thank you for being with us always! Give us strength to rejoice in you, no matter what troubles we face. Amen.

He himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier. . . .

— Ephesians 2:14

Anton reached out to our media team with some challenging questions: “Where is God when different races and ethnic groups are fighting? Why is he doing nothing to stop the hatred?”

Anton’s inquiry touches on a hot topic. Humanity seems to be getting more fractured day by day. Barriers are popping up here and there and everywhere. Culture, race, language, religion, politics, the economy—so many things separate us and often pit us against each other.

Political scientists are talking about the rapid balkanization of our world. This term refers to the Balkan States in eastern Europe that divided into ­several small nations in the late 20th century. It points to the breakup of a large region or state into smaller entities that are hostile to one another.

In our Bible reading today, we are reminded that Jesus miraculously broke down the wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles. Jesus, “our peace,” creates one humanity out of distinct groups. This unification happens because of our ­reconciliation with God through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

If we want to promote peace in our communities, we need to remember that reconciliation starts with Jesus. He has restored our relationship with God the Father, and he calls us to be reconciled with one another.

Lord Jesus, guide us in bringing our diverse communities closer. Help us to discover that reconciliation happens through believing in and following you. Amen.

If . . . you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.

— Deuteronomy 4:29

“I can’t stand Sundays!” Maria wrote to us angrily. She shared that on Sundays she often felt lonely and empty because many of her friends were busy with their families and churches.

Maria is a single woman with no church affiliation. She is unhappy about her situation. She says she tried dating in the past but didn’t find the right man. She also went to a few ­churches but felt that they weren’t good enough either.

In our response to Maria we suggested that perhaps she shouldn’t focus mainly on searching for the right man or even the right congregation. The Bible teaches that everyone’s main concern should be about seeking the Lord first. That’s the initial step on our journey to peace and happiness.

In our passage for today we hear a call to seek the Lord. This prophetic word was originally spoken to God’s people who would be scattered in exile many years later. The call is followed by a promise that those who are earnest in their search will find the Lord.

Please note that the act of seeking God is more than just a first step or a phase in our spiritual growth. Rather, it is a lifelong quest. The continued search for God, leading to the deepening experience of his love, is the foundation of our inner peace.

Father, lead us to you in faith, obedience, and love. Guide us each day and teach us to be fully committed to you. In Jesus, Amen.

“Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?”

— Luke 18:7

“No justice, no peace.” You may have heard this slogan in the context of antiracism protests.

In January 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr., said, “There can be no justice without peace, and there can be no peace without justice. . . .” King spoke these words in connection with a protest about the Vietnam War and concerns about civil rights.

In our Bible reading for today Jesus tells a parable about a widow who keeps pleading to a judge because he will not give her justice. The widow doesn’t give up. She resists the judge’s unfair treatment by way of peaceful persistence. She keeps coming to him with the simple plea: “Grant me justice against my adversary.” And eventually the judge caves in. Reluctantly he says, “I will see that she gets justice. . . .”

Jesus uses this story to reveal something important about God. God is the complete opposite of an unjust, dishonest judge. God hears and responds to our prayers, promises to bring about justice (though it may not be right away), and gives us his peace.

Father, thank you for hear­ing our prayers and giving us your peace. As we seek peace and justice in this world, guide us to rely on you, acting with grace and peaceful persistence to help bring right where there is wrong. In Jesus, Amen.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. . . .

— Psalm 24:1

In 1983 the ABC television network carried one of the highest-rated TV movies in United States history. More than 100 million people watched the initial broadcast. President Ronald Reagan and his military chiefs were given an advance screening.

It was the movie The Day After—a fictional story about a military conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union that escalates into a full-scale ­nuclear war.

In 1987 The Day After was shown on Soviet TV. I remember watching it as a teenager. It terrified millions of viewers and had a profound impact on attitudes toward nuclear ­weapons.

Today the talk about potential nuclear strikes is back. But much of the fear seems to be gone. Curiously, many people seem more concerned about the dangers of peaceful ­nuclear energy than about the threat of a nuclear conflict.

The Bible teaches that we should not murder. Human life is priceless. The Bible also calls us to care for God’s creation. This world belongs to God, and we are its stewards.

Seeing God’s workmanship fills our hearts with praise and thanksgiving. It also partially reveals God to us and encour­ages us to seek him further. What a terrible sin it would be for humanity to destroy the earth in a nuclear holocaust.

Lord, thank you for this world and the life you give us. Help us to care for and to guard human life and all the rest of your creation. Amen.

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. . . .”

— Matthew 5:44

A dear friend of our ministry shared this story: She grew up in the Netherlands during World War II. During the Nazi occupation of her homeland, her Christian family was ordered to house a young German officer. Understandably he was an unwelcome enemy.

One day the young man received a small package from Germany. He was so excited—his mother had sent him warm woolen socks! Something moved in the hearts of his unwilling hosts. In the midst of the war’s hatred, death, and suffering, they could see a human soul in this enemy. They invited him to church, included him in their family devotions, and led him to Christ. On this small front, Christian love dealt a blow to the hatred of war.

Our Scripture reading today highlights a seemingly impossible command: “Be perfect . . . as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Jesus sets before us the ideal of perfect love, God’s standard that we must always strive for. God knows that we often tend to demonize our enemies. But he wants us to see humanity in them, to overcome evil with good, and to wear down hatred by showing love.

As we walk in Christ, we are surrounded by all kinds of people. We must remember that we are called to love not only our friends but also our enemies.

Lord, in the bright light of your perfection we see our imperfections. Fill us with your Spirit, that we may learn how to love others, even our enemies. In Jesus, Amen.