Peace and Pleasure

We have peace AND pleasure!

When searching for peace, do we sometimes settle for pleasure?

Pleasure can seem to bring peace…..for a season. But sometimes it’s sin that brings that pleasure, though in the end it leads to destruction.

So when is pleasure a good thing? When it’s not brought on by sin, all pleasure is a good thing. God created us for His good pleasure, God loves pleasure.

But, when pleasure takes the place of peace in our lives, something’s gotta give. When we continue in sin simply because we find pleasurable, that destroys our peace.

If we seem to be fighting our way through life with no peace to be found, perhaps we need to search out any hidden (or blatant) sin in our lives and purpose to get rid of it. Repent of that sin – turn from it; separate ourselves from it.

I have friends who expect God’s “umbrella of protection” to still shield them while sinful behaviors dictate their lives. Peace isn’t going to be found there, whether you call yourself a Christian or not. Going to church doesn’t save us from ourselves, but submitting ourselves to Jesus and His ways will result in everlasting peace and eternity of complete joy and unspeakable pleasures.

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  (James 4:7 NKJV)  It’s a matter of the heart; our hearts. We can’t resist anything from Satan without submitting our hearts to God. His peace is forever, but yes, it’s conditional.

God’s peace is unique, it’s not the kind of peace that results from things going our way. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  (John 14:27 NKJV)

This is one of my favorite portions of scripture, so I’ll share it with you here again:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.  The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”  (Philippians 4:4-8 NKJV)