As studied in August 31 devotional, the peace that God gives to those who believe in Him is said to be that which “surpasses all understanding” (NKJV)._ Different Bible verses put it in various phrases such as “the peace that transcends all understanding” (NIV). We have “peace that passeth all understanding” (KJV). Another one says: “…God’s peace which exceeds anything we can understand” (African Study Bible). Then there is “…God’s peace which is far beyond human understanding” (Good News Bible). The ways God’s peace in the minds of those given works is really beyond human comprehension. From these Bible verses, clear understanding of the nature of peace that God gives to mankind is established.
Main focus of this devotional is on the nature of the peace given to man by God. It is a heart and mind gift that works within the heart and mind of individuals. When seeing this peace, outsiders are confused. Reason it surpasses all understanding. The beholders can never discern it or interpret its phenomenon. There was a story of a Nigerian Christian Evangelist, published by Drum Magazine about 1972, who lost his five children to fire incident in US. Their house caught fire as the man and his wife went out for evangelism. On returning, they met the charred bodies of all their five children outside. The husband and wife took the incident in cheerful spirit. The man preached his best message over the bodies of the children on their burial. What made this possible is “peace that surpasses, or exceeds, or transcends all understanding.
Christians are still moving in this peace. The world might take Christians to be fools as they easily hand over their enemies who kill them to God with less bitterness. The world would have been more chaotic if Christians go all out to avenge or carry out reprisal attacks on those killing them at wills. A look at nations with internal violence show why things are like that. They are nations which hate Christianity. There are few if at all, Christians among them who make little or no significant efforts to avenge. Imagine Jesus Christ replacing the ear of one of them who came to arrests Him. He acted on peace that surpasses all understanding. Many of the martyred killed were said to undergo the tortures in smiles and songs while dying. Those who could not understand this turned to Christ on seeing this happening. We all need the peace that exceeds all understanding. It is only Jesus who gives this peace. The world can never give it._ We must look on to Jesus to receive this peace if the world must be in relative peace.
PRAYER:
HOLY SPIRIT, give me this peace that exceeds every human understanding in the name of Jesus. I need this peace more than gold and silver Oh LORD!
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch