" 'There is no peace,' says the Lord, 'for the wicked.' " (v. 22)

For Reading and Meditation:     Isaiah 48:12-22

We are seeing that the reason why people get caught up in activist measures to gain the attention of world leaders in relation to the need for securing international peace is due, in part, to the mechanism of projection. If we do not know peace within, then we will tend to focus on finding ways of securing peace in our outer circumstances and environment. I hasten to add that not everyone who is involved in peace movements is motivated by this reason. I know a number of genuine Christians - people who already have the peace of God in their hearts - who are active in such organisations and have a genuine concern to bring pressure on world governments to do everything that must be done to address these problems. Nevertheless, I have no hesitation in saying that the majority of those involved in the peace organisations are motivated by this strange mechanism we introduced into our discussions yesterday - projection. Since they do not possess peace within themselves, they talk at length about international peace. It is easier to blame the world leaders, the political parties, the presidents and prime ministers than to look into one's own heart and accept individual accountability. Actually the reason why there is so much war and hostility in the world is because, generally speaking, we do not possess peace within ourselves. We create an environment that reflects our inner conflicts - the outside world reflects our inner world. Peace between nations does not guarantee peace within nations, nor does peace between two people guarantee peace within an individual.

Gracious and loving Father, I bow my head in gratitude for the exquisite peace You have given me. Now that I am at peace with You, help me to be at peace with others - and to bring peace to others. In Jesus' Name. Amen.