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If I had to choose between my wife and my putter... well, I’d miss her.

Gary Player

Peace

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

In the midst of his final briefing of the disciples, Jesus stresses “Peace”. The thought of a coach giving a final word to the athlete/team before the competition came to my mind. The key-word is “peace”.

The world of sport is a wonderful arena in which to spend your life but sometimes there does not seem to be much peace! There is pressure, demands on your time from sponsors, media, the coach, the team. There is the pressure to make the team and to succeed. There is the pressure of everyone’s expectations; and even worse the pressure of your own expectations of yourself.

The answer, says Jesus, is to have peace. He is the source of peace. When I first looked at this verse, I read: “I have told you these things, so that you may have peace”. But I missed two words.

“I have told you these things, so that IN ME you may have peace”.

The peace is not an abstract concept – like a supplement you take to receive peace. No, the peace comes through being in Jesus. This is a hard idea to understand. In John 15 Jesus talks about the vine and how branches must abide in (remain connected to) the vine in order to flourish. He said this to illustrate how we must abide in (remain connected to) Jesus to experience his presence and his peace.

Finally the reason Jesus can shield us from the trouble that this world brings and give us peace is that he has overcome the world. Ask him for his peace today.

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