Perfect Peace – Awesome!

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26.3

Perfect peace – who doesn’t want perfect peace? I know I do! In a world that is plagued with every kind of turmoil imaginable, peace may seem like a distant dream. But we must learn to differentiate between what the world calls peace and what Isaiah is describing here. I think when the world speaks about having peace, the reference is to a life that is absent of turmoil. But when Jesus spoke to His disciples about peace, He is speaking of something entirely different. In John 14.27 we read, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

We read these words in John 16.33: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Take note of Jesus’ words when He says that in this world we will have tribulation, BUT He has overcome the world. So He is not talking about a peace that can only be enjoyed when there is no turmoil. He is talking about a peace that you and I can enjoy no matter what is going on around us. “How can that happen?” you ask. The answer is two-fold: (1) our mind is stayed on God, and (2) we trust God – completely. What does it mean for our mind to be stayed on God? It means that our focus for the day is on God. It means that our focus for the moment is on God. It means that the focus of our life is on God. It is that simple and it is that complex. When I think about the promise of perfect peace, I am willing to sacrifice my focus on this world for my focus on God. How about you? Just my thoughts …

“Really?”

“For to be carnally minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8.6-8

Carnally minded – what does that mean? Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance gives us this definition in part: “the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred, or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions) … ” I think Paul is telling us that when all we think about is what is going to satisfy our fleshly desires, we are trapped in a mindset that feels like we are spiritually dead. The opposite mindset – to be spiritually minded – leads us to life and peace. For me, this is the wiser choice.

The reason this struggle exists is found in the next phrase: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” The word enmity here means opposed to or literally to hate God. So Paul concludes with this: “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” So here is today’s question: “Do I want to please God, or am I content to simply stay in the flesh and do what my flesh wants and make myself feel good?” You might say at first glance that this is a no-brainer. All of us want to please God! To which I must respond, “Really?” Here is what I know about myself. If I am not careful, I will easily listen to my flesh and agree with it that “this feels pretty good. I’m going to keep on doing what I am doing.” In order for my mindset to change, I must consciously choose to want to glorify God and “be spiritually minded”. Just my thoughts …

Life Is About Who?

“For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3.20-21

Sometimes we look at people and say to ourselves, “Why do they act that way?” The truth of the matter is that we should not be surprised when unsaved people sin. That is all they know how to do. Even those who, in a moment of righteous conversation, say, “I’m doing the best I can. I think God will understand” need to understand that one’s best is not what God is looking for. John clearly describes the behavior of the lost in this first phrase: “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” No one that I know who is lost wants to be reproved or corrected by God. They do not come to the light “lest (their) deeds should be reproved.”

Conversely, the child of God, whose life is characterized by the truth of God, wants his deeds to be seen, not for his own glory, but so that others may know that it is God and God alone who is responsible for his behavior. I believe the concepts described in these verses highlights the difference between the one whose life is all about himself, and the one whose life is all about God. We see the importance of recognizing the value of our behavior and Who that behavior reflects. As long as my only concern is making myself look good in the eyes of the world, I have lost the focus of what is really important. But when I come to grips with the truth that my “deeds may be manifest, that they are wrought in God”, suddenly the importance of my behavior is found in glorifying God, not in anything or anyone else. Just my thoughts …

It’s OK to Wait!

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1.5

Wisdom is something that all of us want and are never sure when we have enough. James tells us to “ask of God… ” We need to make certain that we differentiate between wisdom and knowledge. All of us have knowledge that we have gained through structured learning and experience. Wisdom is the ability to use the knowledge that we have gained in a way that is beneficial to all concerned. If we have knowledge but don’t know how to use it, what use is it to us? Wisdom is more than the clever use of something that we know. Wisdom is the ability to apply the knowledge we have so that everyone involved benefits from it.

God wants to give us wisdom. James tells us: “ … God, that giveth to all men liberally … ” God wants us to have more wisdom that we have now. He wants to give it to us liberally. God does not upbraid us for asking. He is not critical of His children when we come to Him for wisdom. The promise is that this wisdom “shall be given (us).” Is it possible that sometimes we ask for wisdom and do not wait for God to grant our request? IF He has promised to give it to us, He will keep His promise. Sometimes we need to “sleep on it” before making a decision. I mean by that, that we are often too quick to want to make an important decision. Give God time and opportunity to give you the wisdom you need. Just my thoughts …

Watch Out!

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (9) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5.8-9

Ever feel like you have a bull’s eye on your back and the devil has singled you out for persecution and he has left everyone else alone to concentrate on you? Well, Peter tells us that isn’t the case. He warns us in these verses to pay attention: “Be sober, be vigilant …” Satan is our adversary to be sure. He is ferocious and relentless. His goal is to “emotionally and spiritually” devour as many of God’s children as he can. By being attentive to what is going on around us, we can often catch Satan in the very act of coming after us and win that battle because we are clothed in armor Paul talks about in Ephesians 6.10-18.

Peter’s advice here is well worth absorbing. “Whom resist stedfast in the faith … ” James also tells us: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (4.7) We can’t simply stand by and hope God will somehow intervene on our behalf. The resisting is up to us. And we need to also understand that Satan’s attack is equally as fierce on our brothers and sisters in Christ. “ … knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” When missionaries ask you to pray for them, know that they are subject to Satan’s attack too. When fellow church members ask you to pray for them, know that Satan is after them just like he is after you. So, being sober and vigilant is important for a number of reasons and involves a number of people. Just my thoughts …

Who Is Going to Tell Them?

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the world.” 1 John 2.1-2

These tender words, “My little children … ” bring me such comfort. I can almost hear John addressing the believers in the first century. He is pleading with them, and with us, NOT to sin. This was not a call to perfection, but to a life as sinless as possible … a life above reproach. But John was practical as well as knowledgeable when we wrote: “And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” Think about this … the Savior of the world, the Eternal Son of God, is our advocate. He is our go-between, the one who pleads before the Father on our behalf. That truth is overwhelming to me.

“And he is the propitiation for our sins:” Fix this picture in your mind. Every time you sin, Jesus stands up (He is seated at His Father’s right hand) and says to His father, “I paid for that sin. He’s still perfect.” The Father sees you as perfect through the eyes of His Son. That is a marvelous truth. And the good news is this … He paid for the sins of the whole world. The tragedy is that so many in our world don’t even know that God has a son, much less that He died to pay for their sins. The cold hard truth is this, it is our responsibility (the local New Testament church) to reach our world. So far we haven’t done that. Let’s let our daily prayer and passion be that God would help us literally reach the entire world. No one should go to hell without knowing that God sent His Son to die for his or her sins. Just my thoughts …

Watch How You Walk!

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5.16

In the book of Galatians, Paul takes great pains to help the Galatian Christians learn how to walk in the Spirit. Vs. 17-18 continue with these words: “For the flesh listeth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” It is essential for you and me to remember that there is an ongoing war between the Spirit of God and our flesh. The moment we forget that simple truth, Satan jumps in to intensify that war and to capture our attention and draw us away from any desire to serve God.

Paul quickly reminds them and us that when our flesh is in charge, we “cannot do the things that (we) would.” There are times when it seems like we will not survive the battle of the day. That is exactly what Satan wants. Recall Paul’s words: “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” You and I must make the conscious decision every day that we are going to walk in the Spirit. That is a conscious choice. We must also make a conscious choice not to fulfill the lust of the flesh. May I encourage you to make it a daily practice to yield each day to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to remain in control of your daily activities? Paul warned the Galatians and he is warning us too. Just my thoughts …

With These, You Can Make It!

“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” Psalm 119.114

“hiding place … ” I remember as a kid when we played hide and seek, every one wanted to find the very BEST hiding place. Some were better at it than others. But eventually everyone was found. But when the psalmist says that God is his hiding place, he knows one thing for certain – when God hides him, Satan can never find him. We read these encouraging words in Psalm 90.1-2: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (2) I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God: in him will I trust.” This picture comes to mind. I am sitting in my Heavenly Father’s lap. His arms are around me. And there is nothing Satan can do to get to me as long as I am safely help by my Heavenly Father.

Then the psalmist says that God is his shield. Even when he is NOT hidden, he has a shield that cannot be penetrated. Why? Because His God is his shield. And finally we read, “I hope in thy word.” One more dimension is added to this equation, and that is HOPE. This is not just something that we long for. It is something without which we could not live.

I pray that you are encouraged, as the psalmist was, by the knowledge that you have a hiding place, a shield, and you have hope that is anchored in God’s word. That is enough for anyone of us to live each day in victory. Just my thoughts …

We Have It All!

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4.16

“come boldly unto the throne of grace … ” Let that sink in for a moment. The eternal God of the universe invites you and me to come into His presence – the throne of grace – and to come boldly. Why would He do that? I believe the answer is found in the preceding 2 verses: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15) For we have not n high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like a we are, yet without sin.” And the very next phrase says, “Let US therefore come boldly … ” We are privileged indeed.

The next phrase is even m ore encouraging to me. “ … obtain mercy … find grace to help in time of need.” Are we not always in need of not getting what we deserve from God? That is the definition of mercy. That part of God’s character that allows Him to grant mercy to His children cannot be overlooked. We need to express our thankfulness every day for His mercy. Finding grace to help in time of need is not just a daily thing for me. Sometimes it is hour-by-hour and at times even moment-by-moment.

So consider with me all that we have in this powerful verse: (1) Access to the throne of grace, (2) mercy, and grace to help in time of need. What more could we ask? Just my thoughts …

But I Dont WANT to Wait!

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40.31

“wait upon the LORD … ” That really stretches us doesn’t it? When we think about the fact that God is all knowing, omnipresent, and all powerful, we say to ourselves, “Why doesn’t He just go ahead and do what I asked Him to do?” After all, if He CAN, why doesn’t He? When you and I know what God knows about any given situation, then we can criticize the way He handles something. We somehow thing that since something is URGENT to us, it ought to be URGENT to God. The truth of the matter is that we are often controlled by the tyranny of the urgent. Now look at Isaiah’s whole phrase: “they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength … ” God’s goal may be bigger than our goal. He may want something far better for us than we have ever imagined.

Waiting gives us perspective: “they shall mount up with wings as eagles”. Have you ever seen something from an eagle’s perspective? Waiting gives us stamina: “they shall run, and not be weary”. Sometimes we just need the stamina to “keep on keeping on.” Waiting provides something we can get from no other experience: “they shall walk, and not faint.” There are days when walking brings me to a place of total exhaustion. God says that when I learn to wait on Him, I will be ABLE to walk and not faint. That is a goal worth achieving. So, read the verse one more time. Think about seeing things from the eagle’s perspective. Think about the stamina you will gain as you wait. Think about just “keeping on” in your walk with God. Just my thoughts …