“Again the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘If you will bow down and worship me’” (Matthew 4:8).

As soon as Jesus was baptized and set apart for his public ministry, the very first thing that happened was the temptation in the wilderness. There the devil tempted Jesus for three days with power, notoriety, control, fame.

We know that Jesus refuted and rejected these temptations.

Fast forward two thousand years. I can’t help but wonder if the modern day evangelical church is pursuing the very temptations Jesus rejected in the wilderness. The kingdom of God was never about earthly power, notoriety, fame, or control. It’s about the crazy love story of a God who so loved sinners that he could not imagine an eternity without them in it. So God made a way through his Son’s death and resurrection that whosoever should believe in him – red, white, black, yellow, democrat, republican, American, Chinese, Russian, Iranian, North Korean – WHOSOEVER should believe in Jesus will be saved.

Could it be that we’re pursuing peace in the wrong way?

I will finish this entry with a quote from the renowned philosopher and thinker, Jimmy Hendrix (you do know I’m joking about the philosopher and thinker thing right?)

Jimmy Hendrix said, “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”

I think Mr. Hendrix might be onto something.

“One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side of the lake.’ So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger” (Luke 8:22-23).

Today, I share with you what Pastor Craig Groeschel says about this passage. Pastor Craig is the pastor of Life Church who shares the YouVersion Bible app with the world for free:

The same peace that calmed the raging storm on the sea is the very peace that can calm your heart today. It isn’t a peace that depends on everything around you being quiet, orderly, or easy. It’s not found when the world finally settles down or when all the questions are answered. This peace shows up when Jesus is close – right in the middle of the noise, the fear, and the uncertainty. Waves may still crash and winds may still howl, but his presence brings a deeper stillness that nothing else can touch. When he speaks peace, it reaches beyond circumstances and settles the soul, reminding you that you are held, seen, and never alone.

Pastor Craig Groeschel

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4)

I don’t think God got the memo.

When I pray for peace, what I am expecting and wanting is for God to get rid of everything that is stealing peace from me.

• Violence? – yup. Get rid of it!
• People out to get me? – yup. I want them gone.
• Financial pressure? – yup. Absolutely
• Disease? – Yup. Is that even a question?

That’s what I expect. Peace. Everyone knows what peace is.

I don’t think God got the memo.

God doesn’t promise peace in the absence of evil, hardship, disease. God promises peace in the midst of those things. Look where God locates his protection and guidance – even though I walk through the valley of the shadows of death. Whatever that valley is, it sure sounds ominous and foreboding. And that’s exactly where God promises his peace.

Until Jesus comes to make all things right, the world you and I live in is going to have hardship, disease, betrayal, and suffering. And that is why God promises us his presence and peace in the midst of the storm. That’s the only kind of help that will make a difference for people living in this world.

Maybe it’s not that God didn’t get the memo as much as we better start paying heed to God’s memo.