Jesus' Peace for You

Matthew 6:27-30 “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
 
WORRY is a big deal for Jesus, isn’t it? Jesus knows worry hurts you too much! His love for you directs you to step out of the world’s fears and into the Creator’s peace, especially as troubles strive to crush our faith.  
   Consider how the Lord assured his disciples in the upper room the night before he died: John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Do you see Jesus’ assurance? “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.” The Master knew those men young in their faith would need a deep, mature faith to confidently look through the fear they would encounter in the next few hours. They would witness his suffering and death. Jesus’ peace would need to overwhelm their hearts as they awaited his promised resurrection.  
   But the disciples’ fear locked up their peace: John 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked in fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  Then one week later, Jesus went again: John 20:26b Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Behind locked doors, the disciples were afraid. We criticize Thomas for his doubts; yet the others lived with little or no faith behind locked doors, fearing the authorities and doubting Jesus’ resurrection. Indeed, it was time Jesus’ peace and power to be with the disciples, to transform their minds to fully access Jesus’ resurrection authority. It was time to step through the locked doors to faithfully minister the gospel of resurrection to a world dead besieged with worry and fears. 
   The same is true for us, isn’t it? Yes, we are guilty as Jesus preached on the Mount: “O you of little faith.” To equate worry with “little faith” is truly a serious matter. Faith, after all, is the essence of our saving relationship with Jesus. The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:7 “We live by faith, not by sight.”  Too often, though, we live by sight, not by faith, don’t we?
   Is Jesus, then, saying that if you worry you are not saved? Not necessarily. He is saying your faith must grow. As you are saved through God-given faith into God’s perfection, you are on a journey to become more as God. We all have our sins and weaknesses to overcome in the Spirit’s power. So then, Jesus is teaching that you do need to trust his resurrection power, to grow in your faith. To allow worry to keep your faith little is to miss a true intimacy with Jesus.
   If worry is your habit, it is because you have decided to worry. Listen to Jesus and choose a new way. Strive toward a new mindset to give each worrisome thought to Jesus. Pray to him to receive his peace and to grow your trust in him. Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. (Psalm 55:22)
  
Numbers 6:25 the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.