For May 8, 2022
Through Jesus Christ, we have been reconciled to God and can have peace with Him forever,
I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of 
everything I have told you. 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 (John 14:25-27 NLT).
Jesus also promises,
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33 NLT).
Regarding the peace of God, one commentator writes,
[Peace with God] expresses the state of reconciliation. Sin is the source of all discord and war between man and God, and between man and man; and hence there can be no peace until this curse is removed. All other peace is an idle dream and illusion. Being at peace with God, we are at peace with ourselves and with our fellow men.1
Our peace with God is complete and eternal. We have been accepted into His holy and righteous presence and are no longer at odds with Him because of our sinful past. Jesus says He will repel no one who comes to Him by faith (John 6:37).
Being under conviction of our imperfect and sinful condition, we—for the first time—can realize how fallacious and destructive our human pride can be. We also see the irrationality of immoral behavior considering God’s moral commands, and the futility of expressing apathy towards Christ and rebellion towards God. Once we truly envision who we are as sinners and who God is as holy, we can humbly confess that we will never satisfy God’s righteousness with our own strength.
In this reflective state, God’s Holy Spirit sensitizes our hearts about our critical need for a Savior, whose righteousness exceeds ours and satisfies God’s righteous standards, which are still in effect, despite the latest popular opinion polls.
The Spirit helps us realize that without Christ, we are under eternal condemnation because we are “born in sin and shaped in iniquity” as the byproducts of this fallen world. (Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:1-3). The Spirit also draws us to accept Christ as Savior and Lord because He paid our sin debt and redeemed us back to God, so that we can experience His peace forever.
Peace translates into a clear conscience that frees us from our sinful past and opens new future opportunities beyond our wildest dreams. The Spirit provides us with peace and tranquility to dispel our anxieties and fears so that even when we face turmoil, we can be at peace and have sleep that is sweet (Proverbs 3:24).
The Helper replaces our worries, anxieties, and fears with His calm assurance and ease as we concentrate on the Lord,
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV).
Adversity, difficulty, and temptation do not devastate us because the Helper within us, sustain us. God is faithful, and He has promised not to allow anything to overwhelm us,
God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT).
With His peace, we can be peaceful toward others by not expressing ill will. The Lord sees all our works, both good and bad, and He will avenge accordingly (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19).
Ours is a perfect peace that will last forever. It is not attached to circumstances but subject to His sustaining work in us. Herein lies our source of optimal comfort (my emphasis),
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things… and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:4, 6-9 NIV).
Our past is irrelevant, since it has been nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14). We stand, totally reconciled by the blood of Jesus Christ. We were once enemies, but now we are at peace with Him. This is God’s grace, and it is truly amazing. Won’t you give your heart to Jesus Christ, and experience His lasting peace today?
What a Wonderful Savior!