Today during my quite time the Lord taught me something as if for the first time. The topic was about God’s peace. Isn’t peace something we all want in life? Isn’t the peace of God something to behold? I beleive so! In fact the moments I have experienced God’s supernatural peace defy explanation…because His Peace cannot be explained or understood. It can only be grasped by a believer and follower of Christ.

However, what about everyday life. This is where I struggle. Peace moment by moment. Or having peace with people who are causing problems or making life and ministry difficult. How about having people with people who reject the peace you are trying to bring. That steals my peace. But GOd taught me somethings today that I want to write down in their rawest form. SO please realize this is fresh and not well developed but it is making peace in my heart right now so I want to share it.

God’s peace is with every believer. We must understand the Jesus is the Prince of Peace. All peace must ultimately God from Him! There will be circumastances and people that will try and steal are peace so we have to learn how to respond.

I will only speak about people right now…for it seems in my life that it has been the hurt that others have caused me in my life that most often steals my peace. SUre there have been some circumstances and even sometimes things that I have done (sin) that have stolen my peace and caused me pain. But for now God is speaking to me on how to minister PEACE when dealing with others.

First, brining peace to others is GOd’s business. We cannot make someone accept our message of peace. As a pastor I often talk to people and try to help them have peace. Many times my attempts are rejected. What God has taught me is this…I am only a messenger.

Second, God has also taught me that if someone is unwilling to accept the message of teh King and His Kingdom it is not my fault. No matter how aggressive or how earnestly I want to convince someone about the Word of God and the path of the Everlasting, if they refuse to listen and apply it I am wasting air. SO I have to be receptive as to whether or not someone is willing to listen the message of Peace (Truth, Way and Life).

Third, WHen you enter a home or a situation Jesus taught His disciples to say, "My Peace I leave with You" However, if they reject your peace it returns to you and you leave. That is it. You walk away.

Fourth, as you walk away you wipe the dust off your feet. WOW! That sounds harsh…even non peaceful. But Jesus is not saying be mean. He is saying don’t let them steal your peace. If they don’t want peace that is their heart problem. Take your peace back and wipe of the dust and move on.

THese concepts may sound simple above. Okay, I can do that. If someone rejects my message of peace I can wipe off the dust off my feet and move on. Yet, for me it is difficult. As a pastor I love people so deeply and care for them. It hurts me to see them hurt. It hurts me worse to see them loose peace or to continue in sin. It hurts me even more when I come with the message of peace from God’s word and they refuse to listen or heed to it! It hurts when they believe things that are not biblical and they continue in their ways refusing to attempt they are wrong.

The truth is I believe so deeply in the WOrd that I want to share that with everyone. I want everyone to walk witht under the peace of the Prince of Peace. The thing I have to learn to do is to take my peace back adn wipe off the dust.

SO guess what! I am going to try this principle that our Lord the Prince of peace taught! I am going to minister by saying, "May my peace be upon you." If the peace of the King and Kingdom that I bring is rejected I am going to learn not to spin my wheels so to speak…but to take my peace back and wipe the dust off my feet. This does not mean I won’t care. It means that until someone is ready to hear the truth and accept God’s ways, I am not going to loose my peace.

May the Lord of Peace be upon you.

PC