Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. (John 14:27)
When the chaos in the world around us is heaviest, the light of Christ is the brightest, if we will but look in His direction. Think about the chaos at the wedding reception that took place at Cana in Galilee when they ran out of wine. In the ancient world, wedding receptions were week-long events; often the entire town was invited to attend to celebrate the couple’s new life together. To run out of wine at such an event was not only an embarrassment, it was an offense to the unwritten rules of hospitality. Imagine the chaotic concern that was beginning to spread. “They have no more wine!” However, Jesus and His disciples were invited guests, and when His mother went to Jesus for help. Then the light of Christ shone brightly as He turned mere water into wine — and not just wine, but the best wine they had ever tasted (John 2:1-10).
Think about the chaos on the hillside where Jesus fed the 5,000. (And because only men were counted in those days, it is estimated that as many as 10,000 to 20,000 people were actually fed.) The disciples went to Jesus, saying that it was late, the people were hungry, so Jesus should send them away to go buy food. There was simply no way to feed so many people! Then the light of Christ shone brightly as He multiplied the five loaves and two fish to feed the massive crowd — and there were still leftovers after every man, woman, and child had eaten their fill (Matthew 14:15-21). Truly He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine! (Ephesians 3:20).
Think about the chaos in the region of the Gerasenes, when a man with an evil spirit came running from the tombs to Jesus, a man whom no one could restrain even with a chain. Night and day this demon-possessed man would cry out among the tombs and cut himself with stones. Then the light of Christ shone brightly as He cured the man and cast the legion of demons out of the man and into a nearby herd of pigs, who immediately ran over the cliff and drowned in the lake below. And the man who was being destroyed by Satan became an evangelist, traveling throughout a ten-city region and telling people all that the Lord had done for him (Mark 5:2-20).
What kind of chaotic circumstances are you facing today? Are the waves of challenge crashing over you? Are you caught up in the chaotic pace of everyday living in a culture that conditions us to emulate the Energizer Bunny and just keep going and going and going? Never forget that Christ is in every circumstance and available to carry your chaos . . . IF you will invite Him.
No life was filled with more chaos than the life of Jesus. The multitudes came to see Him and pressed in around Him, straining to hear Him, touch Him, follow Him, and be healed by Him . . . and also to ridicule Him, mock Him, trap Him, and condemn Him. And how did Jesus deal with the chaos that swirled around Him?
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)
Jesus gave us the key to rising above the chaos of life and remaining calm: time alone with God. You see, the chaos in the life of Christ was ongoing. When the disciples found Jesus they said, “Everyone is looking for you!” This was no surprise to Jesus. Yet Jesus knew He needed to withdraw from the chaos to connect with His Father in heaven. This is the key to conquering the chaos in our own lives. We need to withdraw into the presence of Christ, especially in the midst of our chaotic circumstances, and He will give us the peace that passes all human understanding. You have His Word on that!
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 