How can we recognize "the things that would bring you peace" today? Setting the Scene in Luke 19:42 “As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, ‘If only you had known this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes.’” (Luke 19:41-42) Why Peace Was Missed in Jerusalem • They rejected the clear, prophesied arrival of their Messiah (Isaiah 9:6–7; Zechariah 9:9). • They clung to outward religion while neglecting true repentance (Matthew 23:27-28). • They trusted political solutions instead of God’s salvation (John 19:15). The Peace Christ Still Offers • Peace with God through justification by faith (Romans 5:1). • A settled heart, guarded by His presence (Philippians 4:6-7). • Unity and reconciliation in His body (Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 3:15). • Personal wholeness that defies circumstances (John 14:27). Recognizing the Things That Bring Peace Today 1. Receive the Prince of Peace Himself • Acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior (Acts 4:12). • Rest in His finished work on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). 2. Submit to Scripture’s Authority • Love God’s law; “Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your law” (Psalm 119:165). • Obey promptly; peace follows obedience (James 1:22-25). 3. Walk in Continual Repentance • Keep short accounts with God (1 John 1:9). • Allow Him to uncover hidden idols that rob peace (Psalm 139:23-24). 4. Cultivate a Prayer-Saturated Life • Exchange anxiety for thanksgiving and petition (Philippians 4:6-7). • Listen as much as you speak (Jeremiah 33:3). 5. Yield to the Holy Spirit • Let the Spirit’s fruit—especially peace—be evident (Galatians 5:22-23). • Follow His promptings rather than fleshly impulses (Romans 8:6). 6. Pursue Reconciled Relationships • Seek forgiveness quickly (Matthew 5:23-24). • “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone” (Hebrews 12:14). 7. Anchor Hope in Christ’s Coming Kingdom • Look forward to the “Prince of Peace” ruling visibly (Isaiah 11:6-9). • Let future certainty calm present storms (John 16:33). Daily Practices That Keep Peace in View • Start each morning with a gospel promise—write it where you see it often. • Schedule brief “peace pauses”: breathe, recall John 14:27, and thank Jesus aloud. • Replace worry triggers (news, social media) with worship music or Scripture memory. • Serve someone quietly; peace often blossoms in self-forgetting love. Confidence in His Unfailing Promise “You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3) What Jerusalem missed need not be hidden from us. Trust, obey, and keep your eyes on the Savior who still weeps for cities yet lovingly offers peace to every heart that will receive Him. |
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