John 14:23-27 – The Blessing of God’s Peace

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

What is freedom if one does not live at peace in their heart?

Today’s devotional reading: John 14:23-27

Peace, the idea of peace, has been something that man has sought since the beginning. In the beginning, when Adam and Eve dwelt in Eden, they got a taste of true peace – a life without sin and conflict. Today, man drops bombs and fires bullets in the name of peace. Imagine that: Peace coming from war.

Peace is not something the world will ever be able to give because it lives by a sinful doctrine. Sin is incapable of producing the kind of fruit that leads to peace. Sin produces corrupt and bitter fruit like selfishness, greed, covetousness, envy, bitterness, anger, and hate. As James said, the wrath of man cannot produce the righteousness of God (Jas. 1:19-20).

The reason why wrath cannot produce the righteousness of God is because wrath corrupts the soul. A seed that does not receive the right nutrients is a seed that cannot grow and produce a good crop. Many of us are too consumed with anxiety, stress, worry, and again, anger, selfishness, covetousness, and envy, and such consumption does nothing but trouble the soul.

Christ has offered to take away the stress and burden that the sinful world has put on us (Matt. 11:28-30). When you come to Christ and accept His offer, Christ will take away all that troubles your soul so that your soul can breathe again. A soul that can breathe again is a soul that is filled with life. A soul that is at peace and filled with life is a soul that is capable of producing the righteousness of God.

I encourage you today to give no room to wrath, anger, bitterness, hatred, envy, covetousness, selfishness, and greed. Let go of that which corrupts your soul and breathe in the peace that Christ freely gives.