And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15
Although it was frustrating when I was in school, there are times I'm glad I'm no genius when it comes to mathematics. Figures for me can be pretty discouraging. For example, people who are in a position to know have calculated that over the last approximately 3,000 years of recorded world history, the earth has only been at peace eight percent of the time.
Before you get out your calculators, let me tell you that adds up to about 286 years. During that same period of time, around 8,000 treaties have been made and broken. Please, don’t ask me for the list. I’m only reporting what they’ve told me. Yes, there are times when I'm glad I don't know numbers.
As I look at all the people I meet, I wonder if they are at peace much more than that eight percent. Sin, the world, and the devil always seem to come up with something to rob us of peace. It can be the person at work who gossips, or the individual who takes the parking place we had our eye on. There's always something.
Thankfully, Christians know that when the peace-robbers come, they have a Savior who is a peace-giver. His sacrificial life and resurrection show us that He cares. He cares so much He invites us to take our peace problems to Him.
Jesus is the only Person to whom we can turn; He is the only One who can lift our burdens, the only One who can offer us peace. And although I’m no mathematician, I feel comfortable in saying the more we trust Him, the higher will be our percentage of peace and thankfulness.
THE PRAYER: Jesus, You came that we might have life and peace, and have them in abundance. Though we may look to this world for contentment, what we find will, in the end, be disappointment. Fill us with Your peace, which defies human understanding so our hearts may be overflowing with thanksgiving. In Your Name. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: Job 30-31 Matthew 13:31-58
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select "Save Link As" or "Save Target As" or "Download Linked File As"