5 March
My peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world gives. Let not your hearts not be troubled nor be afraid! John 14:27.
You indeed seek and desire peace, but wrongly. For you seek it how the world gives it, not like Christ does. You should also know that God is wonderful amidst His people, because He has established His peace in the midst of where there’s no peace, i.e., amidst all temptations, as He speaks: Reign amidst your enemies! He also does not have the kind of peace that disturbs anyone, for that’s the world’s sort of peace, instead He has the kind of peace which, if anything disturbs one he endures everything with quiet peace. When you say with Israel: Peace, peace, there still is no peace. Much rather instead say with Christ: Cross, cross, and there still is no cross. For there is no longer a cross if you joyfully say: Blessed cross, among everything else, there is nothing that is comparable to you!
Go away physically pain – I have Jesus’ peace, thus I was able to untangle another Luther translation. You, don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid,
In Christ,
Elmer H.
]]>