Rev Rodney was due to be in Wengen in May 2020, he shares with us his thoughts on finding peace at uncertain times.

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If we were in Wengen at this time it would have been wonderful to look forward to one last walk in the mountains even if were raining. 

I never expected that a visit to a garden centre would be something to look forward to! When the garden centres opened some weeks ago it was a great experience of freedom to travel to one and to see all the beautiful flowers and plants. The hard work came later with the planting of some new plants when we were back home. We mainly appreciate the little aspects of life when our world is turned upside down and we lose control of how we live our lives. Today's reading speaks of God’s love for us and that he wants us to have his peace in our hearts.  

When we focus on the Lord Jesus Christ and put him at the centre of all we do and say- then we have a loving relationship with our saviour. Christians serve out of love not of fear as in v 15 Jesus stated, "If you love me, you will obey what I command”. Later Jesus said in v 23 "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching". Notice the word "If" at the start of each sentence - it means we can choose to love or not to love Jesus. May we always aim to love God with our whole heart, mind, soul, and spirit. 

Two words that are common in both verses are love and obey. Again, in v 21 "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me" Now look at verse 24 "He who does not love me will not obey my teaching”. If we have a problem with the word of God check out how much you actually do love him. 

Loving Jesus goes together with obedience to his teaching. A line from a famous hymn states "Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey." What a great rule for life.  

At present we live in a world that appears everything is forever changing. But Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. In him we have a sure foundation. At the end of our reading in v 27 we read "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives". In its greeting of peace, the world can only express a longing or wish for something to happen. Remember the peace of Jesus is real and present. Jesus is alive! 
Life is full of mountains to climb- but one small step at a time is all it takes to climb over any problem.

God Bless you all, 

Rev Rodney