Peace on Earth

 

When I think of peace, I think of snuggling with my children when they were young, watching TV together in our family room. We felt secure, loved, at rest. I think of Christmas Eve church services when the lights are low, the candles are lit, and the congregation joins in singing “Silent Night.”  That is, for me, a moment of settled peace. I think of traveling with my late wife, quietly talking, holding hands as I drove. In those moments, love made me feel serene. When I led a congregation as their pastor, peace filled my heart when we took the Cup and the Bread and celebrated our Savior’s work described by Isaiah in these horrific words of ultimate love:  "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5, NIV) Renewing our hope in the Covenant is a moment of wonderful peace!

The Hebrew Scripture promises us a "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9.6)  Do you know Jesus in that way? He invites us into a life where we are made whole and complete, where we are not restlessly searching about for something or someone because He is our Peace.  The peace that He is and that He gives to us is so much more than the absence of conflict. The Hebrew word is "shalom." Shalom” a word describing a life that includes wholeness, completeness, prosperity, settledness of mind and heart.

So many people live without peace, trying to find it in buying more things, experiencing more pleasures, trying on different identities, working for success, seeking a new relationship. Yet, they remain without peace.  Jesus "saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:36, NIV) But He did not, nor does He, condemn those who are restlessly wandering. Instead He invites us to find Him as the great Shepherd, to be cared for by Him, to live in peace.

It is the lack of internal peace that is most painful, and the cause of most of our external conflicts as well. When a person is anchored in Christ, when he has answered, in Him, the question of why he exists and for what purpose he walks the face of the earth, living in peace is the fruit that grows from the Seed of the Gospel!  Those who know Christ and His ‘shalom’  no longer need to be constantly evaluating their accomplishments, their possessions, their position in this world to try to find some sense of peace.  Serenity removes the envy and jealousy from which comes 'every evil work!' (James 3.16)

Isaiah writes, "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this!" (Isaiah 9:6-7, NLT) What a glorious promise! But before we apply it to the nations, we need to apply to our heart!

The Messiah, God's Messenger of Peace, came to be our 'shalom.' He came to bridge the gap between the Father and us, restoring us from the dis-inherited state into which our disobedience has sold us. He came to establish the rule of the Spirit, our Mighty God, so that we would not continue as slaves of sin. He came to be our Counselor, so we could know how to live wisely and purposefully, with insight to discern the way of Truth! Yes, He is our Peace.

Are you conflicted today? Do you want more -- respect, things, possessions, power, comfort, pleasure, control -- because you think that such things will finally let you feel 'at rest?' Dear friend, that is a mirage! If you should get that desire, the shimmering waters that promise refreshing would still be on the horizon.

Peace, true settledness and wholeness, comes through Jesus Christ.

The word from the Word for today invites us to come find our peace with God. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13, NIV)

(Video of this blog at this link)

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There Is A Savior

There is a Savior
What joys express
His eyes are mercy
His word is rest
For each tomorrow
For yesterday
There is a Savior
Who lights our way

Are there burdens in your heart
Is your past a mem'ry that binds you
Is there some pain
That you've carried far too long
Then strengthen your heart
With His good news
There is a Savior
And He's forgiven you

There is a Savior
Who lights our way

Bob Farrell | Greg Nelson | Sandi Patti Helvering

© 1986 Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Songs (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)

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Finding God’s favor

 

As I awakened this morning, I felt great gratitude for the goodness of God that I have known in abundance. An old song drifted through my mind –

How rich I am since Jesus came my way,
Redeemed my soul and turned my night to day-
How very rich, how very rich I am!
Such peace and joy I never knew before,
And countless blessings from His boundless Store,
How very rich, how very rich I am! (John W. Peterson)

My net financial worth does not qualify me as ‘rich’ but the riches of Christ are mine.  He has loved me, saved me, given me grace overflowing, purpose, and eternal life. Yes, how very rich I am!

Let’s clarify something – this blog is not promoting the so-called “prosperity gospel!”  We do not put in our prayers and believe God only to gain access to wealth, health, and fame. But His Word does reveal to us that God has a plan for life and that when we live as He has made us to live, we will find a blessed life – rich in the most significant ways. We will know love, joy, and peace and what could be better? 

Those who ‘serve God’ to get rich in the sense of the “American dream” have a misplaced focus on Self. Christ does not invite us into an exclusive circle – a ‘Bless Me’ club.  However, when we receive His grace, surrender ourselves to His purposes, the blessings of God will emerge in our lives as surely as fruit grows on healthy trees.

We find peace with God because of His grace in Christ.

We are blessed with joy because our eternal home is secured by Jesus. 

We live without condemnation and guilt because we are saved from sin by His sacrifice.

We are loved by our God without reservation and are therefore able to love others deeply and authentically.

We are forgiven and forgive which is a key to mental health and happiness.

Ah, the list of the true riches found in Christ Jesus is a long one, dear friend.   

Part of the Advent message is that God came to us, our Immanuel, to reverse the Curse of sin. We celebrate that in the carol (Joy to the World) when we sing -
No more let sin and sorrow grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground.
He comes to make His blessings flow,
Far as the curse is found…

Here is my counsel.  Do not chase the blessings, pursue the One who blesses! 

The word from the Word this morning is the first song in the Psalms. Love this truth.

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the
counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish." (Psalm 1:1-6, NIV)

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Goodness Of God

I love You Lord

Oh Your mercy never fails me

All my days

I've been held in Your hands

From the moment that I wake up

Until I lay my head

I will sing of the goodness of God

 

All my life You have been faithful

All my life You have been so so good

With every breath that I am able

I will sing of the goodness of God

 

I love Your voice

You have led me through the fire

In darkest night

You are close like no other

I've known You as a father

I've known You as a friend

I have lived in the goodness of God

 

Your goodness is running after

It’s running after me

Your goodness is running after

It’s running after me

With my life laid down

I’m surrendered now

I give You everything

Your goodness is running after

It's running after me

 

Ben Fielding | Brian Johnson | Ed Cash | Jason Ingram | Jenn Johnson

 

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Escape or Victory?

 

Early in the Second World War, May 1940, the British Expeditionary Forces in France were surrounded by German Panzer divisions and forced to retreat to Dunkirk. It looked like a terrible defeat was imminent, but then Churchill called for an attempt to rescue the army, using both military and civilian boats and ships.  In just a few days, 338,000 men were taken from the beaches of Dunkirk, including French forces. In their narrow escape they left behind their armaments but saved their lives. The moment though just an escape enabled the British to fight on.  Four years later, June 1944, the Allied forces returned to the beaches of France and the Normandy invasion became the beginning of the march to victory over the Nazis.

Advent is a time to celebrate a triumph, not an escape! Christ came not to take us out of the world or to lead us into isolated and detached holy communities.  We are called to live as He did, engaged with the world, dealing with sin, bringing hope and healing, people of peace and love. John tells us "So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father." (John 1:14, NLT)  

 The Gospels show us our Savior speaking to His world, loving the broken and bruised, forgiving the sinner, healing the sick. Some loved Him, some hated Him.  Could He have retreated to some desert place, gathering a few devoted followers, living in relative safety? I suppose that was possible, but it was not His mission.   One day in Jericho, after He had gone to have dinner in the home of man named Zacchaeus, a notoriously sinful man, He told those who questioned His choice - "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10, NIV)

Christian, God, the Holy Spirit, lives in us, giving us gifts (spiritual callings and abilities) to do God’s work in our world. Let’s not make Jesus a reason for retreat, an escape from a world often ugly and cruel. Rather, let us pray to be like Him – courageous in the face of evil, filled with a passion for God’s work, serving the least, standing for justice, and inviting all who will come by faith to enter the Kingdom of God with us!

Glenn Packiam, a pastor in Costa Mesa, CA, wrote this parable.

“Imagine a boy being bullied on the playground. Kids surround him, taunt him, push him onto the ground. He’s fighting back the tears, but that’s about all he can fight; there’s no way to stop the terror and the torment. Then, almost out of nowhere, a car pulls up. It’s the kid’s father. “Get in the car, son,” the dad yells. Rolling out of the other kids’ grasp, the boy scrambles to his feet and stumbles to the car. They speed off. As the boy looks briefly out the window, he is sure the bullies are laughing. The boy is safe, but there’s no way to count that as a win. An evacuation is not a victory. ...

 Creatively imagine a totally different scenario: Instead of the dad yelling for his kid to get in so they can drive away, the dad parks the car, gets out, and walks slowly over. The authority of his very presence drives away the bullies. He embraces his son. He calls out to other kids who are hiding, who are hurting, to come out into the light. He decides to settle in and remake the playground entirely, now with better equipment and brighter delights. Food and drinks arrive. Then comes the music. And ice cream. Laughter abounds. Somehow the place of pain has become the place of joy.”  - Christianity Today, 12/3/22

Our Savior is that Dad who goes to the playground and transforms it with His Presence. Shall we join in Him in that holy mission in our world today?

The word from the Word is from Isaiah,  a passage that Jesus quoted as He began His work in the synagogue of Capernaum. May they comfort us and call us to a holy passion.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me
to preach Good News to the poor.
He has sent me
to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” (Luke 4:18-19, NLT)

He came once to save.
He will come again in victory.
Hallelujah, for the Lord, our God, the Almighty reigns.

(Video of this blog at this link)

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 Lead On O King Eternal

Lead on O King Eternal

The day of march has come

Henceforth in fields of conquest

Thy tents shall be our home

Thro' days of preparation

Thy grace has made us strong

And now O King eternal

We lift our battle song

 

Lead on O King Eternal

Till sin's fierce war shall cease

And holiness shall whisper

The sweet Amen of peace

For not with swords loud clashing

Nor roll of stirring drums

With deeds of love and mercy

The heav'nly kingdom comes

 

Lead on O King Eternal

We follow not with fears

For gladness breaks like morning

Where'er Thy face appears

Thy cross is lifted o'er us

We journey in its light

The crown awaits the conquest

Lead on O God of might

 

Ernest Warburton Shurtleff | Henry Thomas Smart | Ovid Young

© Words: Public Domain 

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