'Peace be with you.'
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.' " - John 20:19-21 ESV
It is one thing to believe that God sent Christ into the World for a redemptive purpose to finish a work... It is another to believe the we are sent into the World to walk in that finished work.
But, Wait before you go. Have Peace. It starts with peace. God does not hit us with our calling first. Peace is first and then peace is second also because it is only from finished work peace that we can even begin to understand how the Father sent the Son and then be sent ourselves.
Peace. Then our eyes moves to his hands and his side. He is wounded but not bleeding. He is hurt but not bitter. It does not stop Him from fellowship. He eats and moves and loves. We are glad to see Him so whole and alive is spite of His wounds.
We are sent ones. We start out young and fresh but in time we are wounded by the wounds of ministry. Wounded in the house of our friends but peace is ours. Finished work peace is ours. People will see our wounds but they will not be our focus. As sent one we are sent with a message and a peace that passes understanding.
You may say, 'I am wounded and I am bitter.'... look at Jesus... look at His joy... Look at His exaltation... look at His power... look at what He has done... all the sin for all time has been paid for by Him. God has forgiven. We are His children and forgiveness is a power bestowed on us.
From a place of peace we can go in the great commission. I'm not going without it. Today it is available to anyone who believes. It is available to those who see Jesus and reckon on what His wounds really mean. By His stripes we are healed. Healed in our emotions and given a life that lives above and overcomes scarring pain.
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