John 14:27
I give you peace, the kind of peace that
only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give. So
don’t be worried or afraid.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Greg
and I do not “go out to eat” very often. We take the children to a
local restaurant or fast food place after church on Sundays…and we get
“take-out” a few times a month. But for the most part, I’m pretty
content to prepare our meals at home…and bless his heart, Greg always
eats them – even when I experiment on us with a new Pinterest recipe!
But
once in a while, we get hungry for steak. And while we have tried the
offerings at several restaurants, there is only one that truly satisfies
us – and it comes from a tiny “mom-and-pop” restaurant in our community
known as “Chuck’s”. We’ve eaten at Chuck’s off and on for decades,
because for a span of several years, the owners closed the restaurant
and pursued another business venture. Boy, were we ever happy when they
re-opened their steak house a few years ago!
Like I said, we’ve
tried steaks at several establishments…from franchises to those
privately owned. And none compare to Chuck’s. We are never
disappointed there…the meal always satisfies and leaves us filled to the
brim - and happy (albeit often needing a nap!). Did I mention their
rolls? Those little pillows of deliciousness are more akin to a cupcake
than a piece of bread…and we enjoy every morsel. In case you have not
eaten a steak dinner lately, these are not the cheapest offerings on
most menus. So when I hand over that kind of money for one meal, I want
it to be the best thing I have put in my mouth in a long, long time!
And that’s always the case when we eat steak at Chuck’s!
Okay…commercial
over! But here’s the thing. There are lots of experiences in life
that give us pleasure. Plenty of things will satisfy us for a little
while…good food, the company of others, exhilarating encounters and
“thrills” of all kinds. We can find joy in the victory of our favorite
sports team over their opponent…and comfort in the happiness of a long
and fruitful marriage or relationship. We can relish a job that we love
– or a home that provides us with all of the “creature comforts”…or the
peace and tranquility of visiting a beautiful lake, forest, or National
Park. We can be cozy and content to attend worship on Sunday and
fellowship with family and friends…and we can revel in the pleasures of
the community in which we live.
But for the long haul, there is
only one “meal” that truly satisfies and never disappoints…and that is
the “Bread of Life”. The peace of Jesus Christ cannot be found in this
world. No one else can give us this peace and gratification. And while
Jesus’ gift of salvation is totally free, the “cost” of being His
faithful follower can sometimes seem a little high. We may face tests
and trials…it may seem that we “lose” some people who don’t agree with
us…we may be ridiculed and challenged. But in the end, the peace and
rest we find in Jesus is the only kind that is worth the price.
So
if you are dabbling with other avenues to peace…if you have “tried out
other restaurants”, so to speak…I encourage you to come back to Jesus.
He never closes…He will never “go out of business”…and He will never
disappoint. If you want true, perpetual, everlasting, quenching peace
and rest…Jesus is your answer. The time has come to stop wasting your
Spiritual “dining experiences” and receive the “meal” that satisfies
like no other. From now on...Who will feed your soul?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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