The Road to the Spirit's Peace

And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unte them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” — JouN xx. 22,

FROG AHEN He had said this.” Said what? ‘{ You will find it in the previous verse. “Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.” It was not till He had said this that Christ breathed upon them. Before He gave them the gift of the Spirit’s peace He had to tell them the kind of peace they must expect; otherwise they would have been disappointed. He had to tell them that His peace meant what the world calls dispeace — submission to a sacrifice, ‘‘as my Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.” How had the Father sent Him? From the height to the depths, from heaven to earth, from joy to tribulation, from life to death. The peace which His Father gave Him was a peace that could descend the valley, a peace that could meet the darkness, a peace that could bear the cross. Before I can receive that peace I must be prepared for it. J must learn that His mission is to be my mission too — not the life of luxurious self-indulgence, but the beatitude of the poor in spirit.

Son of man, I shall only get Thy peace by moving in Thy sphere. Thy peace came te Thee by going where Thy Father sent Thee. Thou didst not get it first and then go into Gethsemane; it was in Gethsemane Thou didst find it. It came to Thee by doing the Father’s will, came through persistent struggle, came by determination not to yield. So must it be with me. Thou wilt not send me Thy peace until Thou has sent myself on the path of sacrifice; Thy Olivet will only come to me on the steps of Thy Calvary. Thy will must precede Thy reward, I must serve Thee ere I can rejoice in Thee. Obedience first, then liberty; the cross first, then the crown; the wilderness first, ther Nebo; the mission of sacrifice first, then the breath of the free Spirit. Thou shalt breathe Thy peace into my soul when Thou hast sent me where Thy Father sent Thee.