Not sure how to be a peacemaker…

 

A paragraph in today’s reading again reminds me of the importance of being filled with God’s Spirit  and living by His power. It says:

A cross Christian; an anxious Christian; a discouraged, gloomy Christian; a doubting Christian; a complaining Christian; an exacting Christian; a selfish Christian; a cruel, hard-hearted Christian; a self-indulgent Christian; a Christian with a sharp tongue or bitter spirit—all these may be very earnest in their work and have honorable places in the church, but they are not Christlike Christians.

I’m not to do my own thing. Being like Jesus is being joyful, at peace, confident in God’s care, thankful, careful, unselfish, soft-hearted, unconcerned for myself, thoughtful in speech, prayerful, understanding others, meeting needs… a long list of virtue and grace. It is not just serving others but loving from the heart, both my God and His people, and having a heart of mercy toward those still in darkness and bound in sin.

This week we experienced some time with people who do much for the Lord in public but in private they were disagreeable and not like Jesus in their attitude toward some of the people they serve. It was an awkward place to be. I wanted to defend those criticized and rebuke those doing the complaining, yet the complainers need mercy and grace too. Those they attacked have a deep faith in the Lord that was being misinterpreted. I thought of this verse:

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)

How do I do that? How can those who justify their frustrations with their history of service be shown that good works do not make up for unkind accusations? How can I, who am also a sinner, tell others that their heart attitude is far more valuable to God than all that they do in His name? Besides that, these are people who name Jesus as their Savior and are not outsiders who know nothing about grace. For this You warn me:

Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:4)

Tread lightly. Pray with compassion. Allow the Holy Spirit to do what needs to be done — and speak only if He tells me to speak. But most importantly, learn from this to be filled with God’s Spirit all the time, living by His grace and power for I don’t know who will ring the doorbell next, or who will phone or text, or who will ask me blunt questions. Life is not predictable. Surprises happen. The only way to be ready for anything is to keep focus:

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3–4)

This passage from the NT says the same thing, adding that a focus on Jesus also reminds me that my problems are nothing like what He endured. Focusing on Him keeps me from feeling sorry for myself…

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. (Hebrews 12:1–4)

PRAY: Jesus, right now You are not compelling me to “do something” but to pray and trust You to be the heart-changer. While being a peace-maker is appealing and the stuff of Christlike servants, it could easily take my focus off You and be an ego-builder for me. I wait on You for direction, yet hope for a lovely surprise. Those who seem to be walking in the flesh are Your children and You are able to make them stand. That also includes me.

His Peace

Prayer is hard work at times. Part of that work is physical because the only way I can keep my easily distracted mind from wandering away from conversing with God is by walking while I pray. The older I get, the more challenging is the walking part.
However, in some ways, prayer is lighter because God is teaching me to say yes to His will in all things, not just those prayed for, but He is working to bring all my desires into conformity with His own  perfect will, even when I have no idea what He has in mind.

Today’s reading reminds me that God works miracles in wills that are surrendered to Him, not that He does what I ask, but that He changes the hard thing into an easy one, and makes me love to do the thing I formerly avoided. Like an ox, if I rebel against the yoke and try to avoid it, I find it hard and galling, but when I take His yoke on by consenting to it, that hard thing becomes easy, even comfortable. As the devotional says, in this life I need not carry my burdens alone because Jesus is my burden-bearer and I can lay on Him every concern.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Jesus promised peace, not like the peace we often pray for. We pray for the problem to be fixed or removed, but His peace is an untroubled heart.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

He also gives me my part in finding this peace.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:15–17)

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3–4)

Peace rules when I am thankful, when His Word fills my heart and mind, when I am in rich fellowship with other believers, when my heart is filled with worship, and when I am doing all that He wants me to do:

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)

Peace isn’t about walking less or slower, just as it isn’t about expecting God to do everything the way I want it done. It is about focus and trust, and about total surrender.

PRAY: Jesus, I’m also noticing that peace sets me free from that nagging sense that I’m not doing enough, or saying enough, or being what I should be. Your peace is about focusing on You to the point that I can hear Your voice when You want me to speak or act, and be content and resting in You, letting You decide how best to answer my prayers. It is easy and light — and if I am not content with that, perhaps I am thinking too much of myself (pride) instead of letting You be my Savior.

Joy in Trials?

 

Last night we had a long visit with a couple who work at al local mission for homeless people. They were discouraged as they told us the attitude of most who come to the shelter for food and a bed. Very few are thankful, not even those who get a regular cash gift from the government. They only want more of everything and order their caregivers around as if they were slaves rather than people who are concerned for their well-being.

Today’s devotional is how the author went to a friend hoping she could get help and advice. However, the friend had only one answer, no matter how difficult the problem was and how graphic the author’s explanation. The friend kept saying, “Yes, I know; but there is God.”

This came to mind last night even before reading it today. The conversation was all about the problems of working with unreasonable and unthoughtful people until we began talking about the power of God. Yes, we agreed that our world is in a mess and many have rejected God’s mercy and grace, just curse Him and everyone else. However, God is God.

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side— let Israel now say— if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters. Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:1–8)

Without Him, all would be like those unthankful people, always wanting more, never content or thankful, wasting what they do have, and treat others without any kindness at all. Apart from the grace of God, we are sinners who fall short and are in bad need of His Spirit to change our attitudes.

As we talked of God’s mercy and the grace of Jesus toward sinful people, we could see hope coming to the faces of our friends, It reminded me of these words:

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3–4)

When I look online for images about God being enough, many of them add the words, “…when God is all that you have” and I think how tragic to be humbled to the point of having nothing before realizing that God is sufficient. It is even more tragic when people without much wallow in their misery rather than seeking Him and realizing that He is indeed enough.

PRAY: Lord Jesus, our friends at the mission say that none of the staff could survive the day without the time given by their employer to pray and rest during their shift. Their task is difficult and the work they do is ridiculed rather than appreciated. In many ways, they are suffering like You suffered. Grant them joy in it, that impossible to understand joy and peace that only You can give to those who struggle to obey You when in great stress as they serve very needy people. No one is sufficient for these things, but God, You are ENOUGH!.

“My times are in your hand . . .”

Every time I read the newspaper or open the news app on my computer, I am dismayed at so many horrible reports. Not only are people killing people, accidents and mishaps also take lives. Many people are afraid to go places because of so many threats in the world.

In the Old Testament, David’s safety concern centered on enemies who persecuted him. He asked God, “You are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. (Psalm 31:1; 3-4) Later, he wrote God’s answer to his prayer:

“Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” (Psalm 37:1–6)

God comforted David by telling him his enemies would not live forever; their days were numbered. This is sometimes a comfort for me too. Wicked people are no different than anyone else. They cannot harm others forever.

The psalm goes on in that theme, but also reminds readers that God will bless His people even while their enemies are alive. He says . . .

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright; their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance. But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away. The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives; for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off. The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:7–25)

Our struggles with the ‘right now’ and our inability to see the eternal outcome often includes comparisons. We feel we have ‘so little’ compared to the ‘abundance’ of wicked people, or are ill rather than healthy, sad rather than happy, but God repeatedly promises to take care of His people. Our times are in His hand.

As Fortner says, all the ups and downs of life, including health and sickness, prosperity and adversity, wealth and poverty, happiness and sorrow — are in the hands of our Lord and Redeemer. He appoints the length of our days and the darkness of our nights according to will. He is wise. Our times of refreshing are also in His hands.

We face the simple perils of aging and God comforts me with the fact that “my life will not close until the hand of my Father’s love closes it. I shall not die before my time and I shall not be forgotten and left on the stage of time too long.”

^^^^^^^

Oh Lord Jesus, how I thank You that not only are my times are in Your hands, so is everything else. All that happens in my life (and in this world) are in Your hands. I can cast all anxieties on You, because You care for me. (1 Peter 5:7) You keep me in perfect peace when my mind leans on You. I can trust in You forever, for You, the Lord God, are an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3–4)

Start resting by praying . . .

“Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, but He washed it white as snow . . .” the words of a hymn speak of forgiveness and cleansing, but when I first typed them, I wrote: “Jesus does it all . . .” for as I study the Bible and live my life, I am becoming more and more aware that my efforts always fall short. I could not make myself right before God, nor can I keep myself right in the way that I live.

In learning to live out all that Christ has given me, one important reality is learning to trust Him and not myself, to rest in Him. This “rest” is about God’s sovereign power, about trusting Him to take care of everything. Trying to do that is something like my grandmother used to say, “The harder I try, the behinder I get.”

Resting in God is a challenge for all of us who live in a busy world. The tensions of life press us to work hard, try hard, even play hard. We are individualistic and independent, not used to resting or trusting in anything but our own resources. Yet Jesus Christ makes this lovely invitation . . .

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29)

The image or pattern is the Sabbath. In the past, this one day of the week was a call to stop work and worship. The Old Testament people must have been something like us because God had to command them to do it. They were no more prone to rest (or worship) than we are.

However, resting that one day a week was not the goal. “For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” (Hebrews 4:8–11)

The Sabbath rest is also a picture of trusting God for all of life, of recognizing His care and not fretting or fussing about anything. As the psalmist said, “Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.” (Psalm 116:7)

In the New Testament, the Sabbath had become a day of “thou shall not . . .” rules. Jesus often spoke about the way the people had missed the point. This must be human nature, for even Christians who know how to rest in Him can remember how the church did the same, enforcing rest with a long list of rules.

But Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for man. He understood the principle of rest and knew all this would happen. God had said, “’This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose,’ yet they would not hear.” (Isaiah 28:12) and “’In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’ But you were unwilling.” (Isaiah 30:15)

Why were they unwilling? The same reason that I am unwilling. I do not rest in Jesus, whether it is for a time to be refreshed, or simply trusting Him to do what needs to be done in my life because I think I must do it myself. I think I know what is best. I assume that if I don’t, it won’t happen. All my reasons basically boil down to trusting myself more than God.

The result of refusing rest and not trusting Jesus is anxiety and fatigue. However, I am learning (the hard way, as usual) that all of life points me to that Sabbath rest. God wants me to find it and enter into it. It is available to all, and in it we find the joy and goal of salvation . . .

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3–4)

No images . . .

Believing in God and trusting Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sin and eternal life does not automatically guarantee freedom from idolatry. Even Christians can push God from the center of life by clinging to a faulty concept of Him, and that means worshiping a false god, one of human design.

In a discussion with a person who professed faith, we got on the subject of God’s discipline and I said something about the way He rebukes my sin. She replied, “Oh, my God is not like that.” Without rebuke, or without listening to rebuke, such a concept of God would set her free from His correction.

The Bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Here God infers that He is who He says He is, not what I want Him to be. Not only that, many doubt that God will reward their search for Him. Sometimes we think that the result of our search isn’t a reward at all if it means we need to change our behavior. Either way, that sort of faith does not please God.

I’ve had a few people think of me in a false way, particularly one person who put me on a pedestal as if I never made any mistakes. It was obvious flattery that wanted acceptance of her, but it was not true and unpleasant for me. I’m not sure if God, who is perfect, responds the same way to our false ideas of Him, but forbidding the worship of idols is high on His list of commandments.

The true God is many things. He is powerful, yet tender-hearted. His plans are perfect even when we cannot figure them out. In fact, if I presume God is going to act in a certain way, I could be thinking of my own version rather than the mysterious yet faithful God of the Bible.

Three of His followers had it right when they were held captive in Babylon. They refused to worship the idol of their pagan king. When threatened with being cast into a fiery furnace, the king asked, “Who is the god that will deliver you?” They replied . . .

O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. (Daniel 3:15–18)

No presumption. They didn’t know what God was going to do and said so, but their faith held. Regardless of what God did, they did not assume what His plans were, and steadfastly refused to save themselves by worshiping an idol.

There are some Bible promises that make me realize that I need to worship God as He has revealed Himself in His Word. One of them is . . .

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3–4)

If my mind is on a god that does not fit the God of the Bible, even though I think I have it right, then promises like that one do not work. I might feel at peace for a while, but my version of God will not come through on the promises. Who can invent a god like Him?

Another promise is this one, well known to many but again requires faith in the genuine God, not in some celestial Santa Clause that will do what I want Him to do . . .

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:5–7)

If I have a wrong concept of Him, that error cannot guide me in the right way. My invented version can be manipulated according to my own understanding, but the God who loves me and gave Himself for me is above any manipulation and far greater than my imagination, totally worthy of whole-hearted faith and surrendered worship.

Peace on the Learning Curve

Our church is part of a nationwide 24/7 prayer incentive. Members sign up for one hour commitments throughout the day and night for one week. One of my time commitments was yesterday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

When I got there, another woman was in the designated space. She signed up for 2:00 but was still praying. When she came out of the room, her appearance was changed. She looked younger, full of energy and her face shone. I don’t know what I looked like when my hour was over, but spending time with the Lord makes a difference. Being with Him brings more than contentment and joy to our faces.

For one thing, praying gives release from the cares of this world and the pressures of life. As God’s people have learned, we can . . . 

Cast our burdens on the LORD, and he will sustain us; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22, paraphrased)

God takes our burdens from us, and if not, He sustains us as we carry them. He keeps us unmovable in the sense that things do not bother us the same way they would have had we not taken our concerns to Him. The burdens are not as heaven because we know that He is carrying them too.

Yesterday before my prayer time, a friend told me that she was always calmed down when we were together. I was puzzled, and she explained that it was because I am “so well grounded.” Of course I pointed skyward and said my grounding was from God. She said she knew that.

God is the One who sustains. Knowing He is in control keeps my feet on the ground. Not only that, He produces peace in my heart. Trusting Him is not mere words. I know who He is and what He can do so am less inclined to worry. Because He cares, I can affirm Isaiah’s words . . . 

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3–4)

This does not mean that I am never in a flap about something, nor is my life free of problems, trials, and perplexities. It does mean that He invites me to bring those things to Him. I still may have to do the tasks, take care of the issues, and untangle the messes, but not always. Sometime He simply does it for me. If not, He floods my heart with peace and joy so that I can think clearly to do my part and rise above the anxiety that I’d normally feel.

Yet being His child is a learning curve. The curve is gradual or steep, sharp or easy, full of danger or clear sailing, but no matter what jumps in front of me on this curve, God sustains me just as He promises. He keeps me at peace as I keep my mind on Him, trusting Him.

**************

Lord, today begins with a feeling that this might be a gentle-curve-day. If so, thank You for a rest from the past few days of a steep and uphill path. If not, I know that You are with me. Because You are a solid rock and the source of all things good, I am trusting You for whatever I need. You will sustain and guide me, giving me grace and mercy for every twist and turn, and even on the straighter stretches, of today’s learning curve. 

Clipart from Clipartheaven.com