Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper
Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.
In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.
Reflection: Peace
Digging for Truth: Friends, the context of John 14 is all about the assurance that you and I have of eternal live through our salvation in Christ Jesus, and His promise of the Holy Spirit to His followers. If this does not fill you with His shalom (God’s perfect peace) there is nothing or no one else who can ever offer you this ultimate level of supernatural peace. The peace that most people in this world seek is a state of freedom from which they can escape anxieties, troubles, worries, etc., but the world can only offer temporal peace. When we look for worldly fixes to our unrest, we need to continuously look, and we find ourselves left even more empty than when we began our hunt for peace in the first place. But, when Jesus promised to leave us with a gift, the gift He spoke of was His supernatural peace of mind and heart to completely fill us, and it is nothing the world can ever offer us (John 14:27). You and I do not need to hunt for peace, because we know the One Who is Peace, His Name is Jesus, we welcomed the work of His Holy Spirit within us when we turned our lives over to Him, and the Holy Spirit reminds our souls (our minds, wills, and emotions) that we do not need to be troubled or afraid, because Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for our sins when He laid down His life so that we might be forgiven and have His peace, His shalom, within in us for all eternity.
Grace for the Heart: Jesus knew the disciples would face challenges after His death, and He did not want them to fear, so He told them about the Holy Spirit (John 14:26) so they would know that the Helper would guide them and bring His supernatural peace to their hearts. Friends, Jesus knows our challenges, and He offers us the same Helper Who guided the disciples to guide our lives. Paul reminds us to not worry about anything, but instead to pray about everything, to tell Jesus what we need, to thank Him for all that He has done, and then we get to experience His peace, which exceeds all things and cannot be fully understood by our mere human minds (Phil 4:6-7).
John 14:27 (NLT)
27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Philippians 4:7 (NLT)
7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Challenge: Friends, as long as you and I live in Christ Jesus, He extends His peace to guard our hearts and souls. All we have to do is ask for His peace. Ask God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in prayer to fill us with His peace. Cry out in prayer to the Holy Trinity that heavenly angels may surround us with their peace and that all of heaven may join us in prayer as we need God’s shalom to fill, surround, and fill us.
It has been such an honor to walk through this Lenten season with all of you and to learn more about our Great Helper, the Holy Spirit. I look forward to the remainder of this week’s Lenten devotionals from Pastor Mary, our time together on Wednesday night at 7 pm Bible study at church, the Maundy Thursday service at 6:30 pm at church, and worshiping with all of you on Easter Sunday at the 7 am Sunrise service (location details are in the newsletter) and 9:45 am service at church. Shalom, Shalom my dear friends.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your peace. Each of us so desperately needs it at all times. Forgive us when we seek worldly ways to cover our anxieties, fears, and troubles. You are the only One Who brings us peace, Your shalom, which is the wholeness we seek. Holy Spirit, help us to stay the course as You know what is best for us. We trust You to fill us with Jesus’s supernatural peace. Thank You! We ask all of this in Your Holy and Precious Name, Jesus. Amen.