peace

Why Do We Need Jesus?

We need Jesus! He alone is the Truth and Life. Jesus paid for our sins and gives us peace. Because of Him, we have hope; in Him we find strength to continue on. Without Jesus, there is no lasting joy.

Why do we need Jesus?

What did He do?

How did He do it?

What does it mean for us?

How would you answer the questions above? Do you agree that you need Jesus or are you unsure? Are you able to say what He did or how, or why it was necessary? Does the understanding of these answers change your life at all?

Titus 3:3-7 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Today, we will look at the first verse in this section of scripture. This verse in Titus 3:3, gives us some information of why we need help. It will guide us in our answer to the question of ‘Why we need Jesus’. It says, “For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another”. If we just quickly read this, we might think we cannot relate so therefore, we are not guilty. But look a little closer, be willing to let God examine your heart.

Consider – what does it mean to act foolishly? Have you ever acted foolishly?

The word foolish in this verse means to act without intelligence, to be unwise. I think of the many times I might act without knowing or trying to understand all the facts of a situation. And unfortunately, as we get busier or older, we may not hear every word shared or all of the details, then we can make a comment based on partial information, or what we think was said, which often leads to a foolish comment. Or how about the times you have made a hasty decision based on your feelings at the moment; have you ever regretted a decision you have made?

Have you ever been disobedient? We are disobedient whenever we know what we should do and refuse to do it. For example we are to be kind – do we always share kind words or offer kind actions?

How about being deceived? This means to go astray, to wander, to be seduced, to go out of the way of truth and safety. It is being enticed toward doing the wrong thing. Perhaps this can be akin to peer pressure!

When we read the phrase, “enslaved to various lusts and pleasures”, pay attention to the first word – enslaved. What holds your attention and thoughts captive? This is what you are enslaved to. All sorts of things can catch our attention and become our purpose. However, we are to live for God, no one and nothing should come before Him. Do we readily think of what God wants or what we want; do we truly seek to put His desire for us above our own wants?

“Spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another” seems to be rather drastic. Most of us would quickly say we are not guilty of this! However, think of those times when you might have passed your time thinking thoughts of jealousy, or being hateful in your actions. Have you ever purposefully ignored someone else or perhaps you have thought that their concerns or opinions were ‘stupid’ or unimportant? When we are envious, we think of ourselves more highly than others.

Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good.

Genesis 6:12 God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.

It is easy to understand we all fall short of perfection. No matter how good we might try to be, we get entangled in sin and act unbecomingly towards others and towards God. Because of our weakness and the power of sin in our lives –

We need help, we need Jesus!

Jesus is the truth. Without Jesus we cannot know the truth.

Colossians 2:3 [Christ Himself,] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Ephesians 4:21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,

Jesus gives us life. We are all going to die. Then what? In Jesus, we have eternal life in heaven.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. We just looked at how sinful we are. There is no question we are in deep trouble without a Savior. His name is Jesus!

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus is peace. Look around and it is easy to see the strife in this world! People can get upset and bothered over almost anything. When difficult things happen, often the first reaction is to feel troubled. But with Jesus we can have peace even when we don’t understand.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Jesus is our hope.

1Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Jesus gives us strength.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Jesus is our joy. Everything found in the world only gives temporary happiness because all things pass away and change. But in Jesus we have joy even in the midst of turmoil.

John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

What will you do with these truths from the Bible? Do you recognize that you need Jesus?

In our next look at Titus Chapter 3, we will answer the question of what Jesus did for us. Until then, recognize your need and come before Him with a heart of humility. Ask for His forgiveness and be thankful for His love for you.

Hope Replaces Fear

We are to offer our praise to God alone who is deserving, our prayers to God alone who is able, our service to God alone who is the embodiment of love, and our gratitude to God alone who has saved us through His Son.

Look at the last phrase of 1Peter 3:14, ‘AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED’, taken from Isaiah 8:12-13, "You are not to say, 'It is a conspiracy!' In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, and you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it. "It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread.

Let’s be reminded of the context in which this was written. The Apostle Peter was writing to encourage the dispersed Christians to keep moving forward in the truths which had been revealed to them even though they suffered because of their transformed lives.

This encouragement of moving forward in truth is easily applied to modern-day believers. Think of all the things that allow you to be distracted from what is truly important. Our natural desires cause us to want to fit in, to be liked, to be comfortable, and to have positive experiences. We avoid trouble, criticism, and the thought of being different. Others around us may become easily bothered by the injustices they see in their communities, government, and the world. They may feel that a personal call to action is necessary to right these wrongs. And when you do not jump on their bandwagon, you may be ridiculed, or ostracized, for not caring about their passions. However, if we follow the example of Jesus, we will stand firm in truth, yet promote peace for the purpose of sharing the Gospel.

So how do we not succumb to the fear and intimidation of others?

In order to answer the question above, we need to understand why we are intimidated. I think we can easily be caught off-guard; we forget that we are to expect those who do not know Christ to think we are different and perhaps a bit weird. We sometimes allow ourselves to be surprised that others may not think the same as us. We become intimidated when we think others speak wrongly of us, when we are misunderstood, or when others have the power to make our life miserable.

Our security must come from Jesus alone – we are His children, purchased by Him for His glory, justified through His sacrifice. Whenever our security comes from men, doors of doubt will open.

We need to be reminded consistently of who we are in Christ and remember our mission in Him is to share His gospel to those who are unsaved, and to encourage those who are like-minded. We need to fight the temptation of wanting to be accepted by everyone. We should not be intimidated by those who disagree with God’s word. We should also not be intimated by those who do claim to be Christians yet disagree with us. The reality is that we are all different; we see circumstances differently, and we think differently. God is the one whom we serve and follow. God shall be our fear; God shall be our dread.

Matthew 10:28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Luke 12:4 "I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!

Pray for a heart of humility – remembering we are saved only because of God’s grace, not because of anything we have done or deserve;

Pray for true compassion for those who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior – their end is eternal suffering;

Pray for gentleness and boldness in sharing the truth of God’s love for all mankind and His coming judgement of all who refuse Him.

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Let’s read our text again. 1Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, [you are] blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,

Troubled means to be stirred-up, or agitated. Most of us know others who are easily angered; perhaps even you struggle with this. These are the individuals we typically avoid because they are ready to explode at any moment. We tip-toe around them for fear that something will set them off!

Think! What often causes an individual to become agitated? Perhaps things don’t work the way they think they should, or people don’t respond the way they want them to. People can become anxious when they realize they are not in control, or they have made an error, or caused a problem – maybe the right words were not used to convey thoughts. Also, anxiety ensues when there doesn’t seem to be enough time to accomplish what is expected. You can probably pinpoint several situations where you lose the ability to remain calm and peaceful in your soul. 1Peter 3:14 is clear, it says we are not to be troubled. Remember, this was specifically written to those Christians who were being persecuted because of their faith. Most of us will never experience a direct threat to our physical body as a result of our faith. It seems then, our concerns are but a mere trifle in comparison, and the test to remain at peace and trust God in all things should be easy. But we are weak, and our sin nature produces a challenge for us. God is gracious to give us the solution to our negative responses.

“… the Gospel gives the believer a heart assured of God's favor, and therefore unruffled, amidst all adversities. Not only be not afraid, but be not even agitated”, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary.

“If we are true Christians, we have really no reason to be alarmed in view of anything that can happen to us. God is our protector, and he is abundantly able to vanquish all our foes; to uphold us in all our trials; to conduct us through the valley of death, and to bring us to heaven”, Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary.

“A most certain counsel in afflictions, be they never so terrible, to be of a steady mind and to stand fast. But how shall we attain to it? If we sanctify God in our minds and hearts, that is to say, if we rest upon him as one that is almighty that loves mankind, that is good and true indeed”, 1599 Geneva Bible Notes.

Consider Isaiah 8:13 again, “It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread”. If we are truly God’s children, then we know He is mightier than any foe, He is supreme above all forces from without and within, He is our perfect peace and protection, He is holy and righteous in all His ways, He is merciful and extends forgiveness to those who love Him. There is absolutely no fear in any difficulty if we fear Him. God always knows better, always acts in pure holiness, He is stronger than any foe, sees every situation perfectly clear, understands each heart motivation, and holds all in His hands for His glory.

We are unable to always see things clearly, which means quite often we do not fully understand. We do not need to understand everything in order to function with a heart set on eternity. We do need to trust in God’s strength, His plan, and His faithfulness. In those areas where you feel anxious or stifled, take the 5th – choose to be silent and not add your thoughts, instead pray that God will clear your thinking of what is not important and give you peace that He is in control of all things.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? – No one!

If you do suffer for the sake of righteousness, consider it a blessing.

There is no reason to fear intimidation; nor are you to become agitated.

How can you apply the above truths?

Look at verses 15 and 16, which offer a solution to how we are to respond to those who are against us.

1Peter 3:15-16 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

Being fearful or angry requires energy! Concerns and bitterness can eat up our time and thoughts. Instead of being fearful or angry, spend your time and thoughts in ways which are pleasing to God.

Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.

We are to always be ready to share the hope of the Gospel with an attitude of humility.

What does it look like to sanctify Christ in our hearts? How do we do this? What does it look like to be ready to share our hope?

How do we respond to others in humility?

How does showing reverence relate to gentleness?

Are you able to explain your hope?

“Such a sanctifying of the Lord in our hearts will save us from fear. We dread danger, we dread sickness, we dread death, we dread the eternal world. We are alarmed when our affairs are tending to bankruptcy; we are alarmed when a friend is sick and ready to die; we are alarmed if our country is invaded by a foe, and the enemy already approaches our dwelling. The sentiment in the passage before us is, that if we sanctify the Lord God with proper affections, we shall be delivered from these alarms, and the mind will be calm”, Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary.

Keep a good conscience.

It is God who has saved us. We are to be certain we are above reproach, remembering we are witnesses of Jesus. The reality is we cannot take care of everyone else. we are only messengers, witnesses for Jesus. We are not the ones who effect change in someone. God is the One who changes hearts and lives. So we are to be focused on living for Him. We are to pray for others to be enlightened. We are to be an example of God’s grace, looking for opportunities to share the truth of the Gospel.

Think! There is no room or purpose for argument or insult when speaking of our hope. We can only be thankful that God has, in His great mercy and grace, saved us, and share the reasons for our hope, and evidence of our faith.

Does your life speak of Jesus? Are you a defender of the Truth? We can lose our focus and spend our time and energy defending ourselves, but this is not what we are to defend. We are to make a defense of our hope.

Psalm 119:46 I will also speak of Thy testimonies before kings, and shall not be ashamed.

2Timothy 2:24-26 And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses [and escape] from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

“Ever remember that he has wisdom without error, power, without limits, truth without falsity, love without hatred, holiness without evil, and justice without rigour or severity on the one hand, or capricious tenderness on the other. In a word, that he neither can be, say, purpose, or do, any thing that is not infinitely just, holy, wise, true, and gracious; that he hates nothing that he has made; and has so loved the world, the whole human race, as to give his only-begotten Son to die for them, that they might not perish, but have everlasting life. Thus sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and you will ever be ready to give a reason of the hope that is in you to every serious and candid inquirer after truth.” Adam Clarke’s Commentary

We have hope because of Him. Our thoughts, actions, and words should esteem God as holy.

“No man ought to entertain opinions for which a good reason cannot be given; and every man ought to be willing to state the grounds of his hope on all proper occasions. A Christian should have such intelligent views of the truth of his religion, and such constant evidence in his own heart and life that he is a child of God, as to be able at any time to satisfy a candid inquirer that the Bible is a revelation from heaven, and that it is proper for him to cherish the hope of salvation”, Albert Barnes NT Commentary.

Celebrate Christ

“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you”.

The season of Christmas is upon us! Christmas is a cultural tradition but for those who believe in Jesus Christ, it is a celebration of His birth! Our family has recently been blessed with a new birth. This little boy, now three months old, gulps his milk without taking a breath. He acts as if he is starving. This is a great picture of what our longing for Jesus should look like. As you celebrate the traditions and Truth of Christmas, I pray your desire for the word grows. As you have opportunities to share the gift of Christ’s birth, I pray you also share the sacrifice of His death for us. There is great cause for celebration – because of God’s gift of grace in our lives, because of the faith He alone gives, because of Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection, we have hope now and for the future. Celebrate Christmas!

1Peter 2:2-3 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

We will look at the condition of our growth first, which is stated in verse three – if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. Peter is not questioning his audience about their salvation; he is stating what the result should be because they have experienced God’s kindness. It is important for us to always remember it is only because of God’s grace in our lives that we know Him; it is only because of His work that we are able to grow in our faith and understanding of Him.

Consider how you might become discouraged with someone when you are trying to share Truth. It is disappointing when they do not understand what is so clear to you. Hopefully, you can respond with a spirit of compassion for their lost state and a spirit of gratitude for God’s work in opening your eyes and heart to Himself. The new Christians Peter is writing to have tasted God’s kindness. They have experienced the grace of God.

What happens when you taste something delicious? A desire is developed in us to repeat what we experienced; therefore we want more! There are thousands of companies that will offer a ‘free trial’ of something in order for you to sample their product. They know if you try it and like it, you are more likely to buy it. This is basic marketing, and it is built on a premise that we will want to repeat a positive experience.

When we are called by Christ to understand who He is, and we recognize His work and blessings in our lives, we will desire to know more. Consider the past trials in your life. Perhaps someone pointed you towards God and reminded you of the peace He offers. When you felt weak as if you could not go on, you may have experienced God’s strength and the rest that is found in Him alone. When you truly understand God as your source of peace and strength, you will seek Him.

What is your response to His grace in your life?

Tasting <geuomai> means to experience. We often relate experience to a feeling. Yet, it is much more. WordWeb defines experience as “the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities; the content of direct observation or participation in an event”.

To taste of God’s kindness is to know for certain of His work in your life because you have seen His power and experienced His peace in your heart.

You develop an expectation built from what has happened in the past. Your trust in Him deepens and your love for Him grows.

Remembering how God has worked in the past will grow your confidence in the plans He has for your future.

In Psalm 34:8 the word taste means to perceive,

“O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

Are you aware of God’s blessings?
Do you take the time to recognize His hand in your life?

1 Peter 2:3 speaks of tasting the kindness of God. What is God’s kindness? The KJV uses the word gracious. It is translated from chrestos meaning goodness, gracious or kind. It comes from the root word, chraomai, which means to furnish what is needed.

God will provide to His children all that is needed, and often, so much more. The Brethren NT Commentary makes this comment on 1 Peter 2:3, “If they had ever felt the unparalleled mercy, peace, love and forgiveness of the Lord, they would not hesitate to lay aside all the evil and desire all the good”. Think upon the kindness of God, the mercy He continually extends towards His children.

Psalm 86:15 But Thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.

Psalm 136 is filled with thanksgiving to God for His mercies and recounts the Israelites sojourning through the wilderness and their release from captivity. God has extended His mercy to you and has released you from the captivity of sin. Consider what it means to be controlled by sin. Look at the world around you, the thinking and actions. What was the driving force in your own life before you were saved?

When we think of being kind, we might consider the quality of someone who is considerate and warm, thoughtful, and sympathetic; someone who shows tenderness and is helpful to others.

The kindness of God is so much more. It reaches to the lowest depths, to those most unworthy, even to those who blaspheme in return. His lovingkindness extends to those who are ungrateful and wicked.

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil [men].

God’s kindness is purposed for our repentance.

Romans 2:4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Isa 30:18 Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.

Ephesians 2:4-7

If you are God’s child, you have been pardoned; you are favored. When you taste the kindness of the Lord, your desire grows to know Him more. William Burkitt New Testament notes says, “It is but a taste of the sweetness of God and His word which a Christian partakes of in this life; satiety and satisfaction are reserved for another state”. This commentary reminds us that right now we see only a small example of God’s care for us; we will one day be fully engulfed in His perfect love.

Because you have tasted the kindness of the Lord,

You will put aside all malice, all guile, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander (1 Peter 2:1), and

You will, like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation (1 Peter 2:2).

This is a great visual. Just as a newborn infant automatically turns its head towards its mother’s milk, a new believer will have an appetite for Truth. Picture an infant latching on to its mother’s breast. Their desire for milk is strong and their cry for it will pierce ears; once they are attached to their source of nourishment, they literally hang on! A baby or child instinctively wants to be close to those who will provide what is needed. If a newborn is not fed the proper nourishment, it will have a difficult time thriving. If a child does not receive enough calories, their brain development is affected. Many studies have documented that language development, memory, and IQ, are lower in children with poor nutrition. A child simply trusts, without questioning or analyzing, that their needs will be provided. A Christian, in order to make steady progress and expand in their knowledge and understanding of Christ, needs constant nourishment in the truth of God’s word.

The pure milk of the word – the spiritual truths of the gospel – is in direct contrast to those things listed in 1 Peter 2:1, malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.

We are to desire God’s word as earnestly as a newborn yearns to be fed. The sin that once enticed us is replaced by the desire for spiritual nourishment from God’s truth. Matthew Poole’s NT Commentary states the comparison of verses 1 and 2, pointing out that longing for Truth is “in opposition to their former corrupt and unregenerate state, in which they were destitute of all spiritual life; and so this agrees, not only to young converts, but generally to all regenerate persons”.

We are in a life-long process of growing and maturing in our spiritual knowledge and understanding.

Romans 12:1 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, [which is] your spiritual service of worship.

Romans 6:13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin [as] instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness to God.

The word of God is our food for growth.

Ephesians 4:13-15 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all [aspects] into Him, who is the head, [even] Christ,

“That is to say, if we be indeed believers, God has bestowed upon us a spiritual and incorruptible life; therefore, let us have done with the evil fruits of the old nature. We are born into a new world, let us cast aside the defiled and leprous garments of our former condition. Anger, deceit, and slander are as unbecoming in a Christian as the cerements of the grave would be unfit for a living man. It is ours, henceforth, to live upon the truth and to practice it, to rejoice in a gracious God, and act graciously ourselves. We desire to know the word of God, that by its sustaining power the life within us may be nurtured and made to advance to perfection”, Spurgeon Devotional Commentary.

Do you crave God’s truths more than anything else? Describe your craving. What does it look like? How do you satisfy it?
Do you want to understand and know Jesus more so you can serve Him well? How are you engaged in learning more about your Savior? How has this affected your serving?
Do you look to the unadulterated word of God, the pure truth written for us, without adding or subtracting? This means there is no excuse. The challenge is to act according to His word no matter the circumstances. So if you are insulted, offended, treated unfairly, bothered, or hurt, your response is to trust God and live to honor Him. In addition, we seek to follow God’s word even though it may be difficult. We do not choose some or part and ignore what we do not like or what does not fit our lifestyle.

1 Peter 2:23-24 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting [Himself] to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

I pray you continue to grow in your fervency for His word. I pray your longing is for God’s truths. I pray that you develop an insatiable appetite to know and understand Him. I pray that through His strength and work in your life, you will combat sinful behavior and live to glorify God in all things.

God’s Word, through His Spirit, is the source of understanding and knowledge of His Truths; it is our complete guide to growing in righteousness.

Psalm 19:7-10 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.

Without Jesus, none of this would matter. We would be unable to comprehend true love. Forgiveness and redemption would be unattainable. Celebrate Christ, God’s gift to the world, given because He loves us!

Focus on Christ

There is one thing certain and One we can find rest in. There is peace and assurance when we look to Jesus.

Focus on Christ

One friend lost her Dad and her grandmother within a few months. Another said his last good-byes to his wife before she died. These were not Covid related deaths, however the sting of loss has been made more difficult in a year filled with uncertainty and unrest in general. Everyone has been touched by this pandemic in one way or another. We have all seen fear or disappointment in the eyes of people we know and love. Weddings have been cancelled or limited, births were quietly announced and plans of all kinds were put on hold. Wildfires caused additional disruption, loss of property and life. Unemployment percentages are high, and violence has increased. Most readers will be able to add several items to this list of challenges. I have not even mentioned our recent presidential election. There are loved ones we have not been able to see, and many have celebrated their long-awaited graduation from school on-line. Birthdays, anniversaries, and retirements have quickly passed – all without the acknowledgement we are accustomed to. Wearing a mask and meeting outside and virtual classrooms have become the norm. And 2020 keeps on giving! I received a text yesterday that one of my dear friends got bit by a dog while walking! What next?

The test is real! Will we remain steadfast and focused on Christ? There is one thing certain and One we can find rest in. There is peace and assurance when we look to Jesus. He was born in a stall, a most unassuming place. Yet, His birth brings the hope of salvation to all mankind. The truth of the Gospel – redemption of mankind from sin to eternal life – does not change. Look through the lens of hope and you will see reason for joy.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18, “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Do not lose heart! Our strength does not come from outside but inside.

Ephesians 3:14-19, “For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; [and] that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God”.

Our burdens are small in comparison to the work God produces through them.

Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us”.

Keep your focus on things which have eternal value.

2 Corinthians 5:1-9, “For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this [house] we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven; inasmuch as we, having put it on, shall not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord – for we walk by faith, not by sight – we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore also we have as our ambition whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him”.

We are not here for our own welfare, happiness, honor, or benefit; we are here to offer abundant praise to God for His mercy. It is all for His glory.

Merry Christmas! Be joyful as you contemplate your future in Christ. Christmas is a time for celebration of the greatest gift given to all mankind. Difficulty, burdens, and pandemics do not change the value and truth of the Gospel. This was the case thousands of years ago and it is the case now. There is no better gift you can give to those you love than sharing the reason for your hope.

2020 Election

For thousands of years, even before time began, God has been on the throne. Nothing has changed in the hierarchy of Who is in control, Who is in charge, Who calls all the shots, Who we can trust, and Who gets the glory.

Election Results are In!

Everything has passed that God has allowed; nothing has passed that was not part of His plan.

God is on His throne – always has been, always will be. Psalm 90:2, “Before the mountains were born, Or Thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God”.

God is Most High. Psalm 83:18, “That they may know that Thou alone, whose name is the LORD, Art the Most High over all the earth”. There is no need to despair, the future is certain. The world definitely looks unsettled to many of us, it may seem like things are unraveling and unrest can be felt. Yet, God has a plan which is perfect.

God knows all things. Psalm 139:1-3, “O LORD, Thou hast searched me and known [me.] Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up; Thou dost understand my thought from afar. Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, and art intimately acquainted with all my ways”. Proverbs 5:21, “For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He watches all his paths”. There are no surprises, and no contested results.

God sees all things. Psalm 139:7-10, “Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Thy hand will lead me, And Thy right hand will lay hold of me”. There are no tapes for God to review. He knows and He sees with perfect judgment.

God is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful”. No matter how bad it may seem, God will not bail! The opposite of faithfulness is being a traitor, not holding to your promises. We witness this all around us. However, God is always true to His word. Deuteronomy 31:6, "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."

God is merciful and longsuffering. Exodus 34:6-7, “Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave [the guilty] unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations”." God is holding His hand out through His Son to forgive you of all offense. Will you grasp it, receive His grace and proclaim His majesty?

God is King of all, Ruler of all. Who do you worship? The world and all it contains, or the Creator of everything? 1Timothy 1:17, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, [be] honor and glory forever and ever. Amen”. Isaiah 44:6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.

It is amazing that a perfect and holy God continues to have compassion on the world. The truth is, He desires all to be saved and has a greater love for His creation than we can imagine. This love was made manifest in His Son, Jesus Christ. Trusting in Him alone will result in peace no matter the circumstances. Will you continue in confusion or live for Christ?

Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will give thanks to Thy name; for Thou hast worked wonders, plans [formed] long ago, with perfect faithfulness.

Focus Heavenward.

God is in Control

We live in a world that seems out of control. No matter how powerful words or knowledge or position may be, man is unable to direct his cause. We see this evidence all over the world. The year 2020 has proven to be devastating in areas of health, natural resources, the economy, violence, and fear. Our nation is now entering into the additional uncertainty of a presidential election which is forecast to lead to civil unrest no matter the result. People are confused and angry. So how do we respond? What can we do? We use the inerrant word given to us from God rather than relying upon the wisdom of men.

First, focus on the truth that we know – man is out of control; however, the world is under Divine control. Nothing takes place without the knowledge and allowance of God.

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is [like] channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He watches all his paths.

Jeremiah 16:17 "For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes.

Jeremiah 32:17-19 'Ah Lord GOD! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee, who showest lovingkindness to thousands, but repayest the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The LORD of hosts is His name; great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds;

Second, there is one certain solution for each of us –

Personally respond to God’s grace given, declaring Christ as your eternal King.
Choose to live in obedience to His commands, and
Seek the peace that comes from knowing God is in complete control.

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,

Psalm 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it.

Romans 14:19 So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

Third, recognize that nothing will happen or has happened without His perfect knowledge and plan. Our understanding of His plan is not required. However, we are to accept His sovereignty over the earth. This response brings peace in the midst of an unsettled heart and nation.

Deuteronomy 4:39 "Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the LORD, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.

Psalm 93:1 The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.

Finally, there is much we can do after we respond in faith through God’s grace to His perfect plan.

Be a light in darkness. Have empathy and compassion for the lost.
Share the hope you have in Christ to those who will listen.
Pray for God’s intervention and mercy in a world that does not seek Him or recognize Him as King.
Live in peace with all men as far as you are able. Put self last and Christ first in all your interactions.

2Corinthians 1:12 For our proud confidence is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such [a word] as is good for edification according to the need [of the moment,] that it may give grace to those who hear.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, [as it were,] with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.

God knows all, God understands perfectly, and God has a plan which will lead to His glory in His time. God loves you and sent His Son to pay the price for your sin. Because of this, confusion and anger will not be your response. Instead, peace will reside in your heart no matter what may come.

1Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, [be] honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Slay Anxiety

It is then no longer I who is scrambling to solve a problem, it is God who is sovereign over all things, knows all things, and can do all things.

How do you respond when your own personal concerns about friends, family and life circumstances begin to creep into your joy? My response when I notice my heart is beginning to feel heavy and overwhelmed, is to dig into a well-known section of scripture once again. It is incredible how a child of God can repeatedly visit the same verse through the years and be encouraged by new and different insight. It is not that the Word has changed, but our experiences of God’s faithfulness, and hopefully our own spiritual growth, causes us to see more. God has lovingly placed in our hands His inerrant Truths. His warnings and promises in the Bible are His historical guidebook on how He works, who He is, what He has done and what He will do. The Bible is our manual on how we are to live – who we are in Christ and without Christ, what we have because of Christ and what we forfeit when we reject Him. For the umpteenth time I have needed to reset my sights on what is genuinely important and valued, giving less regard to worldly concerns. I am so thankful to my Lord and Savior for His tender care for my soul. Grab a cup of coffee and let us unwrap the priceless package of God’s word together.

Focus Heavenward, Sharyn.

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Notice the action in Psalm 55 – cast your burden, meaning to throw out, down or away. Picture casting a fishing line into the water. However, in this case you would cut the line having no desire to retrieve it. We are to get rid of our burdens, placing them in the hands of God who is more than willing and capable to handle them. It is then no longer I who is scrambling to solve a problem, it is God who is sovereign over all things, knows all things, and can do all things. This truth creates a sigh of relief and peace in God’s children.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

Again, we see action in Proverbs 16 – commit. We are to remove, literally roll, our burdens to the Lord. When all of our concerns are placed in Christ’s hands, we can take a deep sigh of relief. I will share part of my testimony here for sake of illustration. Years ago, I was unfamiliar with any specific scriptures in the Bible. However, when God determines it is time to open the eyes of one of His own, He orchestrates the circumstances. I was alone late one evening, my children were upstairs sleeping, and I was literally at the end of my rope. I had done everything I could possibly think of to change the direction of where we were headed. Nothing had worked. My life was in shambles, I had three children depending on me, I was scared, alone, felt hopeless, worthless, and ashamed by failure. As hot tears and silent sobs filled the dark night, I was led to take the blanket off the back of the sofa and lay it out on the floor. I then threw in my burdens, all of them, crying and telling God that I could not go on – it was all His. I was too weak to carry the load. I am sure if anyone had seen me talking to what looked like no one and pantomiming the placement of things in the middle of a blanket on the floor, I would have been carried off for evaluation. I rolled up the blanket and held it with both hands as high as possible and asked God to take all that was within and help me. In that moment of giving up of self and rolling my burdens to God, relief poured over me. A quietness I had never known settled in my soul and the peace of God’s care assured me that somehow, we would be okay.

Matthew 6:25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, [as to] what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, [as to] what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?

Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. [Each] day has enough trouble of its own.

Luke 12:22 And He said to His disciples, "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for [your] life, [as to] what you shall eat; nor for your body, [as to] what you shall put on.

1Peter 5:7 casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.

Do not be anxious for your life, do not be anxious for tomorrow, do not be anxious for what you shall eat, do not be anxious for what you shall wear – Be anxious for nothing!

Be Anxious <merimnao> to be anxious about, take thought; through the idea of distraction.

When we are worried or bothered about something, it is what we think about most. In fact, just listen to others. Most often, they talk about what is bothering them. It does not take long to find out what is troubling to any of us as we are usually ready to share with those who will listen. Consider how you might mull over a situation again and again in your mind. When this happens, we find it difficult to concentrate on other things, even those things that are most important. We can become distracted; our attention can be drawn away from God rather than towards Him when our focus is diverted.

Is your soul distracted or troubled?

When Jesus sent the twelve disciples, He told them they would have difficulty, yet they were not to be anxious about all the details. Matthew 10:19 "But when they deliver you up, do not become anxious about how or what you will speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak.

When Martha was complaining about the things that needed to get done, Jesus addressed her, Luke 10:41-42 But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but [only] a few things are necessary, really [only] one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Read an account of what the interaction between Martha and Jesus may have sounded like, written by Philip Doddridge in his New Testament notes, “But let me tell thee, my dear friend, that there is one thing absolutely necessary, and of infinitely greater importance than any of these domestic and secular cares; even the care to have the soul instructed in the saving knowledge of the way that leads to eternal life, and to secure a title to it: and Mary is wisely attending to that; therefore, instead of reproving her, I must rather declare that she has chosen what may eminently be called the good part, which as it shall not be finally taken away from her, I would not now hinder her from pursuing; but rather invite thee to join with her in her attention to it”.

For nothing <medeis> not even one, anything, none at all.

In nothing be anxious, in other words, stop being anxious. Not that we do not care spiritually for one another. We need to exercise what is right, being diligent in our responsibilities. This is not license for a carefree, slothful life.

Romans 12:11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

2Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone will not work, neither let him eat.

2Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.

We are to work hard, making the most of our time, using our resources for the encouragement and service of one another. We are not to be distracted and anxious for worldly cares. Picture a squirrel running to and fro, easily distracted by every noise, breeze, smell, and sound. This is the opposite of what our focus should look like. We often try to figure out that which is not ours to care for. For some reason, we quickly take the burden of fixing those things which are God’s to fix and direct. We constantly need to remember that we are not the ones in control. Then our focus can become what it should be – a life honoring to God, taking care in all things to give glory to His name. Sometimes quick action is required, certainly service to one another is necessary, but frequently prayer is the answer as we wait upon God and trust in His work.

Psalm 127:1-2 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved [even in his] sleep.

But – instead of being anxious and distracted

In everything <pas> including all the forms of declension (downward slope, worsening, decline); all, any, every, all manner, whatsoever, whosoever.

Even when circumstances seem dire, like they will never be resolved, or it seems that things are getting worse and we begin to feel fear rise up in us. Even when we are certain we cannot go on – God can.

All the big things, all the little things, great and small – God cares! In necessity, in prosperity, in adversity, in everything, every time, every condition and every occasion. (cf. Matthew Poole’s Commentary)

Do you trust all things to God?

If someone were to ask, ‘Do you trust God’, many of us would quickly reply with an affirmation that indeed we do. But consider what is behind your most troublesome and heart-wrenching cares. We are to trust God with the impossible. I must admit, often it boils down to a lack of complete trust, I can lose hope and the word ‘quit’ enters my mind. I can readily forget where my sight needs to be centered. Oh Lord, give me a heart to immediately remember Your faithfulness in the past and build my trust in Your faithfulness for the future.

Matthew 17:20 And He *said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you.

Matthew 19:26 And looking upon [them] Jesus said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37; Luke 18:27Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please [Him], for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

By prayer <proseuche> prayer, worship, pray earnestly,

The answer to solicitous care or anxiousness, is fervent prayer. To pray earnestly means to take prayer seriously. This is more than the quick obligated words you may hear at times. It is understanding the value of prayer and the One to whom you are praying. Coming before the throne of God is not to be taken lightly. When I think of who I am, who God is and what He has done for me in spite of my sin, my heart is clothed in humility and gratitude. Then I am prepared to worship and bring my requests before our Almighty God.

When the Amalekites raided Palestine and David was distressed, he found solace in God, 1Samuel 30:6 Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Luke 18:1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,

I have noticed a pattern in my life. Years ago, I spent time studying prayer as I was convicted of the need to develop a deeper, more complete time of praising God verbally, confessing my sins, thanking Him for countless blessings, and of bringing my own requests and the concerns of others before Him. I was intrigued by the stillness of the very early morning and the void of distraction and was challenged to ask God to help me seek Him through prayer when I awoke at these early times. Our God is faithful to answer the requests that cause us to rely on Him more deeply. I now often find myself wide awake in the wee hours of the morning and have come to treasure these sweet quiet times of prayer. I do not even question why I am awake any more, I just spend time in prayer. I am personally thankful for God’s faithfulness in developing a deeper time of prayer in my life.

Fervent prayer, which always pulls my focus back where it belongs, is the key to overcoming frequent worry. Sincere prayer causes us to remember who God is. When we focus on God, we cannot help but be silenced in our worry. Think of some of His attributes: He is light in darkness, He is without sin, He is everlasting, His strength is beyond comparison, He knows all things, He defines wisdom, He is holy and perfectly just. He loves us, He is good, gracious, faithful, merciful, patient, and compassionate.

I believe it is impossible to encompass my thoughts with the worship of God and be worried at the same time!

And supplication <deesis> a petition, prayer, request, supplication (asking God’s help, a humble request for help, plea)

Think of the scenario of a child needing their parent for something. You can hear the desperate sound of their voice as they plea for help. At that moment, only Mom or Dad have the solution to their call. We are to call to God, our heavenly Father, with the understanding that He alone has answers. Our plea to Him is one of dependence and trust in His faithfulness and power to overcome our trouble or see us through it.

When the king of Assyria taunted the people of Jerusalem, Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed, 2Chronicles 32:20 But King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed about this and cried out to heaven.

Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.

It is no surprise that we need God! His intervention in our lives is the only reason we have hope for our future and success in the present. There is a popular saying, ‘Know God – know peace’. How true this is. Right now, during this world-wide pandemic, in which 2020 will be noted for in history, circumstances seem downright confusing. However, there is no confusion on God’s part. He has the answers, He is guiding His people, and His glory will prevail. We are reminded to be on our knees as we seek His help in this desperate time. I pray you see this as a blessing! God is at work in the world.

Things may not turn out the way we think they should, but they will turn out the way God has intended. We may not get what we want but we will get what God has planned. We may not receive what we think we need but we will be blessed with what God knows we need in order to grow in His likeness and glorify Him.

With thanksgiving <eucharistia> gratitude; grateful language to God as an act of worship.

Bottom line – we do not deserve one ounce of any type of blessing God has bestowed on us. What we do deserve is death – instead, we have life eternal. What we do deserve is confusion – instead, we have the promise of His direction. We have peace instead of chaos, hope instead of fear, comfort in the midst of sorrow, joy in all circumstances, and forgiveness rather than condemnation.

Thanksgiving to God for His answers means you are resigned to your need of His care. It is trusting that God’s will is best; it is relinquishing your plan for His. He understands and knows all things. He is in complete control of all things and has allowed all things for your good and for His glory. We are to pray with grateful acknowledgement of mercies given, benefits bestowed, and God’s saving grace in all circumstances. We are to be thankful for the growth that results from affliction, for God’s strength to be sufficient when we are tempted, for His faithfulness when we fail and for our future and certain hope in Him.

Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with [an attitude of] thanksgiving;

Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

Let <gnorizo> to make known, give to understand

This is a small word with significant meaning. First, God wants to hear from us! He anticipates our dependence on Him and our desire to love Him. He wants us to voice our struggles and concerns to Him. He sent His only Son to suffer and die because of His great love for us. He wants us to have a relationship with Him. Second, we are to make known our concerns but then we are to give them to God for His understanding. We are unable to figure everything out, but God will allow us the information we need to honor Him. I like to know the beginning from the end, the expected result, the exact direction. But this is not my story, it is God’s. He will reveal to His children what is needed. The result is His to know.

Is your relationship with God hit and miss – there when you need Him but out of sight and mind when you believe you have things covered?
Do you lay your petitions and concerns at the feet of the cross – and leave them there, trusting in God’s direction and plan?

Earnestly seeking to know God day by day, moment by moment, and trusting in His knowledge and plan for all things, produces a heart of peace.

Your requests <aitema> a thing asked, petition

Does God care about my petitions, my thoughts, my cares, and concerns?

God tells us to bring our cares to Him. He desires our earnest need for Him. When we share prayer requests with others, we might struggle with what words to use or how it may sound. We may even hesitate to share certain things. God already knows our deepest thoughts, there is no surprise about our struggles, and He understands what we really need (which does not always match with our own thinking). Conversing with God in prayer, supplication and thanksgiving is the hallmark of our dependence on Him. It is the characteristic of an authentic relationship. Compare the idea of having the whole of your relationship at a facility where ‘church’ meets once or twice a week. God is not contained in a building. He resides in a believer’s heart and soul 24/7. Read the verses below. Notice the description of continually bringing your requests before the Lord.

1Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.

James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.

Be made known to God. (with generous, filial, unreserved confidence; not keeping aught back, as too great, or else too small, to bring before God, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary)

“They who by a preposterous shame or distrustful modesty, cover, stifle, or keep in their desires, as if they were either too small or too great, must be racked with care; from which they are entirely delivered, who pour them out with a free and filial confidence.” John Wesley’s Notes on the Old and New Testaments

Do you present your concerns to God?

We sometimes readily and even eagerly share our prayer requests with others. God desires us to come to Him, to kneel before Him and pour out our concerns no matter how small. When we acknowledge our need for Him, seeking His counsel, His peace and comfort, trusting in His ways, He is glorified.

Picture the time you might spend with a close friend. You readily share even the smallest details of circumstances to explain your thoughts, whether they are funny, sad, encouraging or challenging. God cares about the details. This is not that we go to Him with a light-minded attitude, but with an understanding that He absolutely loves us, cares for us, has created us, and desires us to desire Him.

Does God really care about all my concerns?

Luke 12:7 "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows. - every hair on your head is numbered.

1Peter 5:7 casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. – all means everything.

Go back to the beginning of Philippians 4:6 which says, - in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Psalm 139:1-3 O LORD, Thou hast searched me and known [me.] Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up; Thou dost understand my thought from afar. Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, And art intimately acquainted with all my ways.

1John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us [in] whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

“Resigning yourselves to the disposal of God, be anxiously solicitous about nothing; but in every difficulty, by prayer for what is good, and deprecation of what is evil, with thanksgiving for mercies received, make known your desires to God, who, if He see it fit, will grant your requests. Or if not, these devout exercises will enable you to bear with patience whatever affliction God allots to you.” Macknight on the Epistles

What is the result of practicing Philippians 4:6?

Thanksgiving results in prayer which replaces anxious thoughts with resounding peace.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Only a child of God can understand this peace. It cannot be explained. But when it is realized, it trumps all anxious thoughts as our soul is guarded by Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

“Both our bodily and spiritual interests will be safe when we place them in the Lord's hands, and, through the peace which will result from our faith, our thoughts will become steady, calm, resolute, and joyful”, Spurgeon Devotional Commentary.

Chosen for Obedience

We are called to live in obedience to His will. If you are saved, you are an alien on earth. You probably realize you do not ‘fit in’ with the world’s thinking. You have been called to holiness just as those dispersed Christians Peter addressed.

1Peter 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.

These are the words of Peter, writing to Christians who had been displaced. He refers to them as “strangers” in the KJV or “aliens” in the NAS. Adam Clarke’s Commentary explains this word, “good men, though at home, are strangers, especially if they meet with opposition, trouble, and affliction, as those Christians did to whom St. Peter is here writing; for he speaks of their trials and temptations”.

The word ‘aliens’ comes from <parepidemos> meaning a resident foreigner. It specifically referred to those converted Israelites residing throughout Asia Minor (reference Strong’s Greek Dictionary). The book of James begins with a similar address, “to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad”, James 1:1.

Peter, in verse 2, reminds the dispersed Christians that they have been saved “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit”, for a reason – “that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood”.

They have been selected, chosen by God to live holy, in obedience to their calling. This requires a heart that is submitted to God, literally meaning attentive hearkening or compliance with the will of God, surrendering to His authority. Consider Peter’s example. When he was called, he left his net and followed, turning from his old way of life, towards God, Matthew 4:18-20.

Those who have been chosen by God,

Were chosen in eternity past for God’s purpose,
Through the calling and sanctification of the Holy Spirit,
To live in obedience apart from sin through His power.

Peter describes himself as “an apostle of Jesus Christ”. An apostle <apostolos>, is an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ, a messenger who is sent. By using these words, Peter confirms his personal belief in the Gospel of grace.

Take a moment to consider how you describe yourself.
What defines you?
Have you received the precious gift of faith which spurs you on to holiness?
What does it mean to be an ambassador of the Gospel?
What is your purpose?
Are you daily growing in obedience through God’s saving grace?

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

1Thessalonians 4:7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.

2Thessalonians 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

“May grace (the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude) and peace (prosperity and quietness) be yours in the fullest measure” 1 Peter 1:2b.

Read Philip Doddridge’s N.T. commentary, “I call you {elect} because you are indeed chosen according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father, who has projected all his schemes with the most consummate wisdom, and perfect discerning of every future event. He has been pleased, according to the steady purposes of his grace, to bring you, by means of the sanctification of the Spirit, by the sanctifying influences of the Holy Ghost operating upon your souls, to evangelical obedience. He has subdued all your prejudices against the gospel, and effectually engaged you to submit to it; and thus you are interested in the pardon of sin, and in all the other blessings which proceed from the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, whereby forgiveness is obtained for us Christians as it was for the Jews under the law, upon sprinkling the blood of the sacrifices; and may this and every other instance and degree of grace, and all the peace consequent upon it, be multiplied unto you all, wherever you are, and whatever your condition and circumstances in life may be”.

If you are saved, God has shown His favor toward you. He has determined for you to be His child, receiving His grace and the work of His Holy Spirit in your life. You have been purchased for obedience. God’s gift of redemption affords His children an abundance of peace – internal quietness in the midst of a chaotic world, and an outward response of calm through all difficulties of life. Rest, freedom from stress and anxiety, is found in God alone.

Perhaps we need to compare who we were before God’s choosing to who we are in God’s grace. Read Ephesians Chapter 2. As you read through this section of Scripture, fill out the three columns below.

Who I was - Who God is, Who I am now-

What He has done-

________________ __________________ _________________

What is your response to these truths?
How will you apply these truths in your life and circumstances?

God’s forgiveness of your sins, your response of faith, growing in holiness, living in obedience, and the resulting peace is because of God’s doing – His choosing. I pray each of us have hearts filled with gratitude for the gift of God’s grace and the power of His Spirit calling us to follow.

Because of …

God’s compassion cannot be used up; He never tires of our need for Him. God’s compassion is always available to the individual who reaches out to Him, and often is showered upon us even without our awareness.

“May grace (the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude) and peace (prosperity and quietness) be yours in the fullest measure” 1 Peter 1:2b.

Because –

This is the gospel. Jesus died for the sins of mankind and rose from the dead, thus giving those who believe the hope of eternal life.

The motivator in the above verse is God’s mercy, His compassion towards mankind. We define compassion as having a deep awareness of and sympathy for another’s suffering; understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it (WordWeb).

If we think about the concept of mercy or compassion in our human understanding, we sorely miss the implication of God’s mercy. Our compassion only extends as far as we are able to perceive someone’s circumstances. Our show of compassion is limited. How often have you tried to console someone while admitting you are not fully able to comprehend his or her pain? We get tired of showing compassion to another when it seems they are always ‘needy’. Is your attitude always one of desiring to help, or is it sometimes mixed with resentment because you have other pressing things to be done?

God’s mercy is perfect. He chose to fully embrace humankind because of His love. We deserve wrath yet He gives mercy. Mercy is something undeserved, God’s mercy is not based on our merits. God’s compassion is not limited; He knows and understands all things. God’s compassion cannot be used up; He never tires of our need for Him. God’s compassion is always available to the individual who reaches out to Him, and often is showered upon us even without our awareness.

Hebrews 4:15-16 says, For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as [we are, yet] without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

God’s compassion is described as great. The KJV uses the word abundant. It is plenteous. At this moment in time, the world is experiencing shortages of many items due to the Covid 19 pandemic. There does not seem to be enough medical supplies and equipment to handle the number of those infected. Paper goods and disinfectants are being rationed. Even before this virus, many individuals understood what it meant to have need. In direct contrast is the abundant mercy of our God - always enough, always available.

God’s great mercy is active. His love for us and His compassion for us was displayed in Jesus Christ. The mercy of God is so much more than a feeling, it is doing. It is more than coming alongside; it is providing the ultimate solution. It is more than simply being aware or having sympathy. God manifested His great mercy in the death and resurrection of His only Son.

How can we possible understand this and not shout for joy and thankfulness! This IS amazing grace!

1 Peter 1:3 begins with “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Blessed literally means adorable. Not as in what is seen, but adoration belonging to God because of who He is and what He has done. God deserves the praise of all mankind for his infinite mercy to the world. The commencement of 1 Peter is full of gratitude and joy. We have a living hope because of God’s love; because Jesus conquered sin and death. Without the resurrection, our hope is dead. “Whatever enemies, snares, dangers, temptations, beset us in our way to heaven, we shall be more than conquerors, if God be our keeper, and if He implants true faith in our hearts, which never faileth” (Haweis).

Praise be to God for the greatness of our salvation and for the future awaiting us in His heavens. Even with the afflictions and troubles in the world, are you blessing God for His abundant mercy, which has caused you to have a glorious hope? What is your worship?

Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Because He Lives

Jesus willingly came to earth to pay the penalty for our sin. Because God loves us, He sent His Son to suffer the death we deserve. Jesus’ blood has set us free from eternal punishment. His resurrection set us free from the power of sin’s control.

It is April 11, 2020, the day before Easter Sunday, and the world is in a pandemic. Covid19 is showing its affects worldwide. The phrases ‘social distancing’, ‘safer at home’, ‘self quarantine’, ‘essential business’, ‘the curve’, and ‘shelter in place’ have become everyday vocabulary. There may be uncertainty in the world; however, there is absolute security in Christ. There are Truths we can stand on with confidence.

We are justified. We have peace.

Romans 5:1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

We stand in grace, we rejoice in hope.

Romans 5:2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

We find joy in difficulty because we know God is working in us.

Romans 5:3-4 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

We are satisfied in God’s love.

Romans 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

HOW?

Romans 5:6-9 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath [of God] through Him.

Are you willing to answer the following questions honestly?

Does your faith produce peace?

Do you rest in God’s grace with hope for the future?

Do you find joy in all circumstances?

Are you certain of God’s love for you?

Will you kneel before your Lord and Savior as you remember His sacrifice?

Celebrate His Redeeming Grace, His Power, and His Mercy towards you! Have a glorious Easter because He lives!

Mercy and Comfort

True comfort, in all circumstances, is found in Christ alone, through His word. As we draw near to Him and receive His mercies, we are comforted. God will offer His perfect comfort in all circumstances.

This morning, as I was finishing a study I have been working on, I was greeted with a calendar reminder that Women’s Bible study would be starting in 30 minutes. Oh how I wish … However, as we lean on God’s perfect plan for each of us, we do have an opportunity to be strengthened in our trust in Him and share our hope with those who are struggling with peace. Schedules have changed, in fact some days I have to think about what I should be doing, as my calendar is sparse with plans that are viable at this time. My heart is heavy with the difficulty and sorrow people are facing – those I know who have tested positive for Covid19, who have relatives and friends that are extremely ill and not allowed by their bedside, who have lost wages and are financially suffering – yet, my heart is filled with joy as I ponder God’s mercy in calling me His child. Be encouraged! God is building our testimonies for His glory.

When circumstances were bleak, Paul burst out in praise to God for the blessings bestowed upon man.

2Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

God is the Father of mercies. What does this mean? God chooses to show leniency and compassion toward mankind even though we are guilty. God offers forgiveness toward sinners.

Consider God’s mercy toward us. We do not deserve it and we cannot earn it, but He has chosen to notice us. Titus 3:5-7 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to [the] hope of eternal life.

God delights in mercy. All that is good is because of God. Mercy is part of God’s character.

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like Thee, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. Unchanging love is translated from the same word for mercy.

The Father of mercies; a most amiable and comfortable relation; not the Father of mercy, or a merciful Father, barely, but the Father of mercies in the plural number to denote the greatness and multitude of his mercies, and that all mercy flows from him only and freely, as streams from an overflowing and never-failing fountain. William Burkitt New Testament notes.

God will show mercy towards the afflicted. Isaiah 49:13 Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and will have compassion on His afflicted.

God’s mercy is plentiful, exceedingly great and always sufficient. Psalm 86:5, 15 For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon Thee. 15 But Thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.

God’s mercy is abundant, plenteous. 1Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

God’s mercy is everlasting. 1Chronicles 16:34 O give thanks to the LORD, for [He is] good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.

God’s mercy is certain, faithful. Isaiah 55:3 "Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [According to] the faithful mercies shown to David.

God’s mercy is tender, compassionate. Psalm 25:6 Remember, O LORD, Thy compassion and Thy lovingkindnesses, for they have been from of old.

God’s mercy is new every morning, it never ends, and it never fails. Lamentations 3:22-23 The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. [They] are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness.

We can trust in God’s mercy. Psalm 52:8 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever.

We can rejoice in God’s mercy. Psalm 31:7 I will rejoice and be glad in Thy lovingkindness, because Thou hast seen my affliction; Thou hast known the troubles of my soul,

The God of all comfort.

Comfort <parakaleo> to call near, to invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhortation, intreat, pray. This is the same word used by Jesus of the Holy Spirit as the Helper in John 14:16, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever”.

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

2Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

We find comfort through His promises and in His protection. The world, people and circumstances are unable to offer lasting comfort because change is inevitable; our future is not secure. In Christ, we are free from worry with a future that is certain, no matter what happens.

Psalm 146:3 Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.

Psalm 146:5 How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God;

James 5:11 Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and [is] merciful.

“And the God of all comfort, the source of all consolation. Paul delighted, as all should do, to trace all his comforts to God; and Paul, as all Christians have, had sufficient reason to regard God as the source of true consolation. There is no other real source of happiness but God; and he is able abundantly, and willing, to impart consolation to his people.” Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary

Where is your confidence?
Who or what is your joy dependent upon?
Where is your gratitude centered? Are you grateful even in difficulty?
Where is your security?
Who is your source of consolation?

“The Father of mercies, and God of all comfort-Mercies are the fountain of comfort; comfort is the outward expression of mercy. God shows mercy in the affliction itself. He gives comfort both in and after the affliction. Therefore is he termed, the God of all comfort. Blessed be this God!” John Wesley’s Notes on the Old and New Testaments

God is the source of tender mercy and provides consolation to those who trust in Him. In the midst of trouble, peace is found in Christ as we look to His promises. Every difficult circumstance we experience gives us opportunity to remember and lean upon God’s mercy and comfort and gives us testimony of God’s faithfulness so that we might share with others where true peace is found.

Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When we understand that God is the source of all mercies and the author of comfort, we will not keep silent. Like the apostle Paul, even in the midst of hardship, we will burst forth in praise for God’s grace on our lives! What looks bleak to the world will be seen in the light of God’s promise to the believer. Because of His mercy, we know Him. I can think of no other thing of greater importance than to share with others the hope found in Christ.

So that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

There are hearts that are fearful – peace is found in God.

There are hearts that are sorrowful – comfort is found in God.

There are hearts that are troubled – rest is found in God.

Answers may not be found for present difficulties, but trust in the One who has all understanding will provide a quietness of heart. We have an unshakeable foundation in God, blessed be His name. Praise God, take courage, be comforted, and be strengthened

Psalm 18:46 The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of my salvation.

Psalm 72:19 And blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen.

Be Still …

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

There is a story of a friendship in the Bible that gives us a strong picture of faith and trust in God – Elijah and Elisha. In 2 Kings Chapter 2, Elijah was about to be taken up to heaven and Elisha was with him.

We have to pause right here and understand the significance of what is happening. The taking up of Elijah is usually what we concentrate on in this story because it’s an incredible miracle in itself. However, consider what else is about to happen: the loss of a friendship, a close friendship. Elijah would be leaving. Elijah was Elisha’s teacher, that person who probably knew him best. There was probably joy in Elisha’s heart for his friend, knowing what would soon take place. But think of the sadness that must be present also. Elisha knew that he would soon be without Elijah. Twice Elisha was questioned by others about what was to happen.

2Kings 2:3 Then the sons of the prophets who [were at] Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know; be still."

2Kings 2:5 And the sons of the prophets who [were] at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he answered, "Yes, I know; be still."

Pay close attention to the response in both sections of scripture above. Be still. Consider. Elisha’s mentor, his best friend, his confidant, is about to leave forever. Humanly speaking, this is heart wrenching. Yet, we see the trust that is displayed in Elisha’s response to others who are unsettled. Imagine the thoughts of those around them. ‘Do something’! ‘How can you be okay with what is going to happen’? ‘Do you understand what is going to occur’? Elisha did fully understand. He also had complete faith in God and trusted in His plans. Be still.

In the KJV, the words are translated, ‘hold your peace’. Chashah: to hush or keep quiet, be silent, be still.

This is not ‘be still’ for a moment. It is keep still, ongoing, remembering continuously Who is in control, Who has the better plan – the perfect plan.

Psalm 46:10 "Cease [striving] and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Cease striving, what a needed phrase! It means to slacken, to abate, cease, to be faint, be feeble, be idle, to leave, to let alone, be still. Many of us need to learn how to be still!

There is painted for us in scripture a beautiful picture of giving up of ourselves, our concerns, our drive that something has to be done, and our attitude of fixing it, to the hands of God. Rest, be quiet, pray – He has it all under control. I cannot tell you how often I need to remember this as I am trying to serve within my many human limitations of strength and understanding! This is definitely not giving up as in ‘I quit’, rather, it is giving up to the One who can do anything and will do everything in His time and His plan.

Perhaps the oft-heard reminder of ‘letting go’ and ‘letting God’ is a good one. But not in the sense that the world views this phrase. The Bible does not tell us to let go and let God. We need to be discerning about what is truth and what just sounds good. The world has penned this phrase, not God. We are to be about doing, so just sitting back and letting things happen is not acceptable. Doing nothing, having no motivation, taking it easy, and watching the world around us is not our calling as God’s children. We are in the middle of a spiritual battle, and to do nothing would hardly be the purpose of a soldier. However, we do need to let go of the thought that we do need to let go of the thought that we are in control. We need to be diligent, we need to strive to serve with all the ability we have been given, but we also need to remember that God is the driver; it is His work in us and through us that we seek after. Let go – to the confidence you can have in Him, to the peace that results from that confidence, and the rest that comes from knowing He has a perfect plan.

Here, in the midst of suffering, we see peace from trusting in God’s purpose. Think of it as acquiescing to God’s plan and His power to bring things about perfectly. God does not need us to agree with Him, but when we choose to trust His plan, we are a step closer to peace. We need to ‘let go’ and ‘not be anxious’ about everything we cannot figure out or fix. Be still.

When we choose to be still in God’s plan, Philippians 4:8 tells us distinctly what we can be about doing as we wait and trust in God.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

We are also encouraged by the promised result of following God’s truth as we look at the next verse in the same Chapter of Philippians.

Php 4:9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.

Peace: quietness, rest

Be still…Be still…Be still…Be still…be still…be still.

Coronavirus PANIC or Peace?

In all of this weird chaos, let us not forget the peace that affords those who have placed their trust in Jesus. There is no need for panic – God is in control.

Panic is an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety, a sudden mass fear over anticipated events (WordWeb). It is a feeling of being scared and of terror.

The coronavirus, or CoVid-19, has produced mass panic around the world. According to an article in The Atlantic, dated March 11, 2020, Italy had over 10,000 cases of the virus and there were simply too many cases to give each patient adequate care.

Listen to the news and you will hear of the quick spread and overwhelming numbers of people this virus has infected. The word quarantine is not often part of our vocabulary. The closest I remember is when we got the mumps as a kid and a quarantine paper was posted on the front door of our house. This was expected and made complete sense since we were contagious. As the news channels continue to report the cancellation of iconic travel destinations around the world, we are left with wondering how we are to react.

Businesses, schools, churches, sports events, meetings and conferences, and almost every place of large social interactions have been closed. Is this an epidemic that should cause a response? Absolutely. However, how should we respond?

I had not personally felt any real concern and certainly had not felt panic even when I heard reports of lines forming outside stores because people were stocking up on toilet paper, sanitizer, and water. I was at a small chain grocery store last week and questioned the worker at the checkout line about the large sign that stated there was a limit of 2 cases of water per person. Both of us chuckled a bit at what seemed to be an over-reaction.

Yesterday afternoon, I drove to a large warehouse chain because my printer ran out of ink. I was hit with the reality of what panic looks like. I am typically slow to react and often under-react at situations. However, just being in the midst of a sense of urgency as people loaded their carts with canned goods, rice, pasta and every type of cleaner available, I felt my heart begin to beat a bit faster. Out of curiosity, I pushed my cart up and down the aisles. I saw something I had never seen before – bare shelves. It was actually a mental challenge not to begin to feel a sense of panic. I had to continually remind myself there was no reason to join the frenzy. I did purchase a few extra items I thought would be helpful to have just in case of – ‘I don’t know what’.

Each of us absolutely needs to follow the instruction of those in charge. We have authority in place for a reason. So if they say stay home I will. We can all act responsibly to lessen the chance of someone getting ill. Praise God we live in a time of social media where we are able to stay in touch and continue to encourage one another. I am thankful the church I attend will stream their Sunday service online. We can all be there in spirit and still follow the guidelines of our government.

In all of this weird chaos, let us not forget the peace that affords those who have placed their trust in Jesus. There is no need for panic – God is in control. He is not surprised by this outbreak. He has the power to work in the lives of those who practice medicine, to make the best decisions possible for everyone. Whatever befalls us, it is because in God’s perfect wisdom He allows it. We have an incredible opportunity to spread our reason for hope when others may be fearful. Please share with those around you that if they turn to Christ, their panic will turn to peace.

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Now What?

The gift of Jesus birth is unwrapped and rediscovered daily as God’s spoken word gives encouragement and direction.

Luke 2:11 “for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”. December 25th is our cultural celebration of Christ’s birth. That was two days ago. Now what? For some, it is the end of weeks of preparation to receive family and friends and touch base with those not seen for a while. After the first of the year, decorations will be packed away for next year and life and schedules will return to ‘normal’. The reason for celebration will be packed away also.

For others, the celebration will continue throughout the coming New Year, and in fact, Jesus’ birth will be remembered on a daily basis as hearts of gratitude for this gift received, live in worship to Him. Celebrating the birth of our Savior and Lord is a powerful reminder of the reason Jesus was born. Luke 2:14 says, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

All praise and worship goes to God for giving us His Son and paying the penalty for our sin through His death. But it doesn’t end there. Just as packing up the Christmas decorations doesn’t end our worship of Jesus, the death of Jesus isn’t the end of the gift given to those who believe in Him. It keeps going, Christ’s resurrection from the dead means He is alive and continues to save those who call upon His name. God’s peace afforded through hope in Christ sustains His children.

The gift of Jesus birth is unwrapped and rediscovered daily as God’s spoken word gives encouragement and direction. God is supreme, the highest in all the heavens. Peace – prosperity in Him, quietness and rest in an unsettled world – is a gift to those who trust in Jesus as their Savior. Good will – delight and purpose found in Him – gives us a heavenward focus as we navigate this earth.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

Isaiah 57:19 “I create the fruit of the lips; peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him”. (KJV)

My prayer is to celebrate Jesus each day, and each moment I have breath; that the season of Christmas is alive all year as Christ’s birth is proclaimed as the greatest gift to mankind. May we live in His peace and good will as we keep this season in our hearts year round.

Hebrews 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

Election Results – Now What?

Pray for all men especially those in authority. Pray with thanksgiving for what God has done and what He will do. Pray that God will work in the hearts of those in leadership that they will be wise and fulfill their responsibilities well. Pray for peace to surround us and for your own personal example to promote peace. Pray because it brings glory and honor to God. Pray for the hearts of all men to be radically changed by God’s gift of love.

A few days ago was the first Tuesday in November and elections were held across the country. Senate seats were open, several measures were introduced, and school boards experienced a shuffling of their members. Did everything I voted for pass? No. Do I have concerns for what I see happening in our country? Yes.

In the first chapter of Timothy 2, Paul is writing to his spiritual child Timothy. Paul urges him to remain in Ephesus in order to instruct the church to teach the truth. He reminds Timothy of his own personal testimony of God’s mercy, grace and faithfulness. He then encourages Timothy to ‘fight the good fight’ holding his faith rightly, unlike some who have wearied and gone astray. Now on to the 2nd Chapter which is where I personally found myself reading this morning.

1Ti 2:1-2 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties [and] prayers, petitions [and] thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

I live in the beautiful state of California. The weather is absolutely gorgeous, the landscape is varied, from mountain peaks to the ocean. There is desert and there are vineyards. We have redwoods and palm trees. Somehow, in God’s design, I was born here and have lived my entire life in this state. California is known for its ‘cutting edge’ thinking. It would be considered progressive. I, however, am what you might label ‘old fashioned’ or conservative.

Back to our elections from this past week. How do we react to what is happening around us? What happens when I don’t necessarily support some of the measures that have been passed or the thinking of my elected representatives? Let’s look at what God’s word says. Why? Because in Him alone we have security and for that, we can be thankful!

1Ti 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties [and] prayers, petitions [and] thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,

We are exhorted to pray! This is not a suggestion, rather it is a strong urging to act upon what we are able. We worship God when we come before Him with our prayers. We acknowledge God as our Father when we pray.

Ro 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"

Ga 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

Notice what must accompany our prayer – thanksgiving. We are to have a heart of gratitude as we pray. And who do we pray for? All men! Yes, even those we don’t much care for. But how can we have a heart of thankfulness when a measure or law passes that doesn’t honor Biblical teaching?

Consider. Where does true peace come from? Does it come from all things going our way or from the knowledge that God is in control of all things?

Jesus reminded His disciples that they would have peace that only He could give. This is not the peace found in the world which ebbs with every change. However, we can live in peace even as we’re surrounded by the world. There is no need to be fearful.

Joh 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

There is a familiar section of scripture I say to myself often. I am reminded that I don’t need to understand, or agree with circumstances that are not in my power to change, in order to have peace.

Php 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Let’s ponder this heart of thankfulness a bit more. When Paul wrote the book of Timothy, it was at a time when the kings and magistrates were largely enemies of the church. We certainly see this now in our modern governing body. We can pray that eyes are opened to see Truth. We can pray for protection. And we can pray these things with a heart of thanksgiving for all the blessings God continually pours out on the believer and unbeliever alike.

Prayer for everyone is considered a priority. In the New American Standard translation of 1 Timothy 2:1, the phrase used is ‘First of all’. It is important to pray for the salvation of souls.

We are to pray for everyone, including and especially those, in a position of authority. 1Ti 2:2 for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

What happens when we resort to prayer? We can be still as opposed to fretting, and we encourage peace as opposed to unrest. Our striving for peace will help to maintain peace around us. Our energy can go into praying for those in authority to be faithful to execute the responsibilities of their position. Tertullian, in his Apology, says “We pray for all the emperors, that God may grant them long life, a secure government, a prosperous family, vigorous troops, a faithful senate, an obedient people; that the whole world may be in peace; and that God may grant, both to Caesar and to every man, the accomplishment of their just desires…We pray for kings and rulers, that with their royal authority they may be found possessing a wise and prudent mind."

Consider. How many acts of rioting and rebellion start because one or a few decide to seek their own justice? When an area is in uproar there is no peace, and there is no safety. So, pray. Pray that God will appoint men who will follow His direction. Pray that God will protect us from leaders with a desire to cause trouble and serve themselves. We may not see what we would like but certainly our own hearts will be led to the peace that comes from knowing God is the ultimate authority. And we can enjoy the peace that comes from living in a place that is kept in order. God established authority to keep peace. This is for our benefit. Is God able to influence a heart? Absolutely. Think back for a moment how He has changed you! God’s answers to prayer do not depend on the righteousness of people but rather His own perfect righteousness.

“[Pray] that their hearts may be so influenced as at least to tolerate the gospel, that we, who are by the principles of our religion taught to abhor every thing which would be injurious to them, may not be injured by them, but may be permitted to pass a peaceful and quiet life, while we are desirous to conduct ourselves not only without offence, but in a useful and exemplary manner, in all piety and gravity, attentive to the several duties which we owe both to God and our fellow creatures.” Philip Doddridge

The last part of 1 Timothy 2:1 says “in all godliness and dignity”. Does our conduct bring glory to God? I cannot choose the actions of others, but I can prayerfully consider if my conduct points towards the holiness of God. We can pray for God’s blessing on our government.

Tit 2:7-8 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, [with] purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound [in] speech which is beyond reproach, in order that the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

Ro 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

In Jeremiah we read the instruction to the Jews in captivity to pray for the peace of the city that held them captive. Jer 29:7 'And seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.'

Ro 13:1 Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

In God’s truths we can have quietness – not troubled from without, and peace – not troubled from within.

As you read further in 1 Timothy Chapter 2, verses three and four spell out the desire God has for all men to be saved. We worship God when we act in obedience; our prayers offered for all men to be saved are acceptable forms of worship.

1Ti 2:3-4 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Nothing is hopeless! Consider what God did in Paul’s life. He was once an avid persecutor of Christians and God turned that same fervor he had against truth to work for His glory.

Let’s pray then, in agreement with God, for the salvation of souls, particularly those who have responsibility to lead. If God saved you, how can you doubt that His grace extends to everyone? 2 Timothy 1:9 reminds us we were not saved because of our own good works but because of God’s grace. Pray for your enemies. Pray for those you know and love. Pray for those in authority. This is according to God’s will and reaps a benefit of blessing.

Mt 5:44-45 "But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you 45 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on [the] evil and [the] good, and sends rain on [the] righteous and [the] unrighteous.

Jesus died on the cross for all mankind. Through Jesus alone, God provides a way of salvation to all and desires all to be saved. We have a responsibility to share Who God is and what He has done, to those around us in the hope that they will believe. It is possible you are thinking if Jesus died for all mankind, why isn’t everyone just saved? Salvation is available and made possible for all, yet all do not accept the gift provided.

Consider. Let’s say you were shipwrecked. You’re the only one who survived and you find yourself on a very small island literally in the middle of nowhere. On this island there is no food, no fresh water, and no shelter. There is no land to be seen in the distance and, although you’re a strong swimmer, there is no possibility of swimming off the island because you’ve spotted several sharks close to shore.

Perhaps for a short time, the beauty and allure of a deserted island with a private white sand beach, seems doable. But soon, hunger, thirst and lack of protection from the elements, take their toll, and the need to be rescued becomes your overwhelming concern.

Just you are finishing your trek around the island, having lost all hope of trying to discover a way off, you notice a bright shiny yacht anchored just off a small cove. You can’t believe your good fortune. You think you may be hallucinating because it is difficult to understand how it appeared, but it is real. You climb aboard and marvel at the accommodation you see. The galley kitchen below deck is stocked with food and water – enough for several days. There are keys and an envelope sitting on the driver’s seat.

You enjoy the food, engorging yourself with delicious meals, you drink your fill of fresh water, and even sleep in the comfort of a real bed. But, soon, the food and water is depleted. You do still have protection however. Several more days go by and you realize you are in a desperate state once again. Then, your eye catches something reflecting the sun’s rays.

The key! You had been so busy enjoying the provision of the yacht, you didn’t really pay attention to the key – or the envelope. You open the envelope and it contains a card that simply reads, “Use the key, it will save you”. The problem is, you don’t know how to drive and certainly have no idea how to manage navigating a yacht.

Now you have a choice. You can stay on the island and even take cover in the protection of what was provided. But eventually, the hope you once felt upon your discovery will vanish and you will starve to death. Or … even though you’re scared to turn the key and have no idea how you will navigate something unfamiliar, you can use the key, and have faith that this yacht is your only way to safety. It will save you but you must trust that it will and put your faith in what has been provided.

God desires all men to be saved. God has provided the way of our salvation. We need to choose to use the key and accept what He has done. Not all choose to place their faith and trust in Jesus.

Joh 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.

1Ti 2:1-4 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties [and] prayers, petitions [and] thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

I am concerned for what I see happening in our country. But I am reminded of God’s faithfulness and the need to pray as His child. I am reminded that peace comes from knowing God and trusting in His perfect plan. God will use the results of this past election and those to come, for His glory and His greater purpose that all will be saved.

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For His Name’s Sake

I love how John Wesley’s Notes on the Old Testament explains the words, ‘He restores my soul’ – “He brings it back; from its errors and wandering. Not for any worth in me, but for the glory of his justice, and faithfulness, and goodness.”

Psalm 23:3

Ps 23:1 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

Think of what it means to be restored. I love restoring old furniture. I don’t necessarily bring the item I’m working on back to its original state, instead I refresh it by putting on a new coat of paint. Often, screws need to be tightened and seams need regluing in order to strengthen the piece. I normally sand the wood pieces before I paint, and sometimes I sand after, to give it a ‘loved’ look. Reupholstering can also give a fresh new look to some pieces but older items may need the cushioning replaced in order to really strengthen and fix the entire object.

When I looked up the Greek word restore is translated from, I was presented with quite a long list of definitions. Generally, its meaning is to retreat again, bring back home again, to call to mind, to continually deliver. The words recall, recover, refresh, relieve, rescue, retrieve and to cause to return are included in the long list of expressions defining the word ‘restore’.

The above seemed a lot to decipher, so I looked at the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge to try to get some additional insight. Here are a few verses using the same Greek word <shuwb> or restore.

Ps 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary says “to restore the soul is to revive or quicken it.

Ps 80:3 O God, restore us, and cause Thy face to shine [upon us], and we will be saved.

There are numerous uses of this same word throughout the Bible, many in the book of Genesis. The majority of uses for this word have the same thought – return(ed), returned continually, brought back, brought again, certainly return, restore(d), come again, bring again, to deliver, and draw back.

Psalm 23:3 says He restores my soul. God comforts His children. God refreshes His children. Not necessarily by changes that occur outside, but by those that come from within.

Consider. How long does an outward change last if only superficial? In other words, if I don’t take the time to fix the integrity of the furniture I restore, it will still be weak even though the outside may look new. God restores our soul, the very center of who we are. He refreshes us from the inside. Initially, He saved my soul from the grip of sin so that I would have eternal life. Continually, He brings me back from wandering by His guidance and protection. When I am weak, God gives me refreshment in His truths and strengthens me.

God not only has gifted us with eternal life, He also is here to direct us and guide us, to restore us, to bring us back when we go off in the wrong direction, to give us rest when we become weary. This is a beautiful picture of our Great Shepherd and His continual care for His children. “Just as a shepherd brings back his wandering sheep from those craggy, untrodden paths, wherein they would lose themselves; and leads them into plain and easy ways, wherein they find rest and safety.” Patrick/Lowth/Whitby/Lowman Commentary

“When the soul grows sorrowful He revives it; when it is sinful He sanctifies it; when it is weak He strengthens it. … Are any of us low in grace? Do we feel that our spirituality is at its lowest ebb? He who turns the ebb into the flood can soon restore our soul. Pray to Him then for the blessing – ‘Restore thou me, thou Shepherd of my soul!” Treasury of David

Ps 23:3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

God not only restores my soul, He leads me, He guides me, He puts me on a straight path, the right path.

Think of those times you’ve taken a wrong turn. About twenty years ago, my husband and I surprised my parents with a trip to Alaska. My Dad had always dreamed of going there. While we were walking through some ruins from the 1964 earthquake that registered a 9.2 on the Richter scale, my husband took a turn and we all followed. Soon, we found ourselves right in the middle of mosquitos nesting. This was as horrible as it sounds: the little critters were everywhere, our skin was covered and if you opened your mouth to say anything or scream, they entered your mouth. I remember having mosquito bites on my tongue, and in my ears along with every exposed skin surface. God doesn’t lead us on a path of calamity, he leads us on His path of righteousness.

Ever have those times where you don’t know which way to turn? The direction you should take doesn’t seem clear and there doesn’t seem to be a good answer or right choice. We’ve all been there at one time or another. Several of us have been there multiple times. Some may even be there right now. What do you do?

Always, always, always go back to the truths you know in Christ Jesus. Psalm 23:3 says God will guide us to His way, what is best. Place your trust completely in His truths given to us through His word. You can rest in the fact that God does what He says. His answers may not come as quickly as we would like which means we need to wait. His answers may also not be what we want, but they will be what we need. His answers are often not easy, but will cause us to trust Him every step we take. Remember the truths written for us just in this Psalm alone.

Ps 23:1-3 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. Ps 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

Ps 31:3 For Thou art my rock and my fortress; for Thy name's sake Thou wilt lead me and guide me.

Pr 8:20 "I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice,

“In the paths of righteousness; in straight, and plain, and safe paths, where the sheep is neither hurt, nor wearied, nor in danger of wandering. By his word he directs me to the right ways of truth, and holiness, and righteousness, and by his Spirit he inclines and enables me to choose them, and to continue to walk in them.” Matthew Poole’s Commentary

Ps 143:8-10 Let me hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning; for I trust in Thee; teach me the way in which I should walk; for to Thee I lift up my soul. 9 Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; I take refuge in Thee. 10 Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God; let Thy good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Isa 42:16 "And I will lead the blind [literal or figurative] by a way they do not know, in paths they do not know I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them and rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, and I will not leave them undone."

I have been saved from sin, I am continually led by my Shepherd to all that is needed, and I am saved to live a life in sync with His will. Only God is able to guide me into His ways. There is no possible way I am able to seek out His truths and follow them on my own without the help of the Holy Spirit. But, being saved from sin I am saved to righteousness. This is my hope, what I know for certain. God is my guide and He never fails to restore His children and guide them – even when they get lost or stray off the path, even when the way seems unclear or difficult. A shepherd will carry the weakest sheep if needed until they are strong enough to walk on their own. Do you trust Jesus to shepherd you?

Consider. The promises of God are certain. The faithfulness of God is sure.

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

2Co 1:20 For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.

Isa 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.

1Jo 2:25 And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.

1Th 5:24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

Ps 36:5 Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Thy faithfulness [reaches] to the skies.

Why does God restore my soul and guide me in the paths of righteousness?

For His name’s sake.

On account of who He is. His character. To display the glory of His grace towards those He loves. Because He is perfect and good.

We are likened to sheep. We easily lose our way and will perish without a Shepherd. It is not because of anything in us that we are able to live lives of righteousness. I am not worthy. But God is and it brings great glory to God’s name when He guides us in righteousness, protecting us from harm. This is a display of His power and faithfulness.

Ps 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy name; and deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Thy name's sake.

Eph 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

To God be the glory, great things He hath done;

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,

And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the earth hear His voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,

And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

Fanny Crosby, 1875

Peace

There is no mistake that again what we see is a continuous work, a lifelong pursuit, a habitual way of thinking and acting as we walk along our course of honoring God.

So I mistakenly posted the study on Ephesians 4:4 before this study on Ephesians 4:3, sorry for the confusion. Anyways, isn’t the picture of this peace sign great?! It brings back memories of the 60’s and 70’s for many of us. Peace in the world is good when found, but the peace offered from God surpasses anything we may be able to accomplish here on this earth. God’s family are able to be united His Spirit and when we concentrate on what we have in common in Christ, we can enjoy peace as His children looking forward to the same future, having the same purpose.

Eph 4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The first verse of Ephesians 4 presents a charge to us to act like children of God. The second verse of this chapter answers the question ‘How is this done, what does it look like’. Now, we move on to the third verse and we will see the results of following God’s commands, the reason why it is so important to pay attention to this exhortation from Paul.

The words given to us in these first few verses of Ephesians 4 are not a one-time action, rather, they are continuous. We are to continually be walking in a manner worthy, continually having a character of humility and gentleness, continually responding with patience and long-suffering to one another. In other words, the idea of ‘I was patient’ doesn’t really measure up to this charge. Instead, our course is one of perpetual effort.

Ephesians 4:3 begins with the words ‘being diligent’ in the NAS translation. We also find these first few words translated as endeavoring in the KJV, giving diligence in the ASV and eager to maintain in the RSV.

When I looked up the Greek word <spoudazo>, the first definition given was ‘to use speed’, in other words to make an effort, to be prompt or earnest. Following ‘to use speed’ were the words to give diligence, to be diligent, to endeavor, to labor, to study.

There is no mistake that again what we see is a continuous work, a lifelong pursuit, a habitual way of thinking and acting as we walk along our course of honoring God.

Consider. What does diligence look like? WordWeb says: 1. Quietly and steadily continuing a task despite any difficulties, and 2. Characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks. What is the opposite of being diligent? Negligence! Accordingly, a good question to ask ourselves may be, ‘Are we negligent in our efforts to walk worthy as a child of God’?

Negligence is not a quality any of us would like associated with ourselves! It means we’re not taking care of our responsibilities. Those who are negligent lack concern and fail to act reasonably. This is different than simply making a mistake. It is continually lacking discretion or discernment. This is not good.

We are to take seriously our responsibilities as God’s children – all the time, in each circumstance, weighing carefully what God would have us do, according to what His word says. The characteristics of walking worthy – humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance – all work together in preserving our unity as a family of God.

Almost every summer, I will spend time preserving the fruit from our trees. It is a bit of work but the payback is keeping the quality of fruit as fresh tasting as possible. Preserving it means it won’t spoil as it may if left alone in an environment where the temperature and bugs will eventually take over and cause it to go bad.

We are to be careful to keep unity among ourselves as followers of Christ. We are to preserve it. In order to do this, we may need to frequently be reminded of what the previous verse of Ephesians chapter 4 says: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love. It takes effort, work and care to preserve unity in the body of Christ. We need to be diligent in our protection of oneness. Paul knew this was difficult, hence the fact that he implores us in his words to take action.

Practically speaking, what does a heart of humility and gentleness, acting with patience, hanging in there for the long run, look like? My best answer to this question is to look at Christ’s own actions towards each one of us. His humility and gentleness, His patience and forbearance, all out of love. I am so very thankful God did not give up on me. Who am I to not treat a brother or sister in Christ with the same consideration?

God’s church is made of people who act and think differently. But, in the Spirit, we are bonded together as one. Oneness, unity. Children of God have the unified Spirit of understanding Jesus as Lord and Savior. The acceptance of Jesus’ death on the cross and victory of Jesus’ rising from the dead – this acceptance of our need provides our common thread of oneness. We are joined in the Holy Spirit as we strive to walk worthy. The church at Ephesus which Paul addresses in Ephesians, was a combination of Jews and Gentiles coming from different backgrounds, the Jews were expected to follow the Law while the Gentiles were not held to it. You can see right away the problem and hear the words being muttered, ‘It’s not fair’. This statement may seem an appropriate response, but then we need to think upon our own standing in Christ. Is it fair that I’m saved? What did I do to earn this gift? Of course, the answer is nothing – nada – zip. Strife could easily have been a problem yet Paul stressed the necessity of laboring to preserve unity among them. There was only one church, not a Jewish church nor a Gentile church, but the Church of Christ. The different denominations we have in the world now were not in existence then.

Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary says the unity of the Spirit “refers to unity of affection, of confidence, of love. It means that Christians should be united in temper and affection, and not be split up in factions and parties.” It goes on to say, “There are so many different tastes and habits; there is such a variety of intellect and feeling; the modes of education have been so various, and the temperament may be so different, that there is constant danger of division.”

This unity described in Ephesians 4:3 comes from within the hearts of God’s children. It can’t just be outward motions because it won’t last, we will get tired, and we will fail. It must come from an understanding of our oneness within. Despite all our differences, we have much in common.

1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Verses 4-6 go on to explain our unity and peace as believers. We can either destroy one another in our differences or come alongside one another in our sameness.

Eph 2:12-18 [remember] that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both [groups into] one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, [which is] the Law of commandments [contained] in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, [thus] establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

Matthew Poole’s Commentary on Ephesians 4:3 referring to the words, ‘in the bond of peace’, states, “in peace as the bond which keeps the members or parts of the church together, which by dissensions are dissipated and scattered. The first step to this unity is humility, for where that is not, there will be no meekness nor forbearance without which unity cannot be maintained”.

Joh 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Ro 14:17-19 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this [way] serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

1Co 1:10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

2Co 13:11 Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Col 3:13-15 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Jas 3:17-18 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Consider. We can either concentrate on our differences or choose to be unified in our purpose. In Christ, we are united. We are sinful creatures saved by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, in need of His guidance through the Holy Spirit, looking forward to the promise of heaven.

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Quiet Waters, Psalm 23:2

Psalm 23:2

Following is a Bible Study for the assisted living home my Mom resides at. I’ve been reminded how important it is to continue to labor for God even as age sets in, wherever we are placed and whatever our physical condition. The blessings are all mine as I meet these individuals, mostly in their eighties, nineties and beyond, and they sweetly pray or read scripture out loud in their quiet, crackling voices! May all of us continue to walk worthy of our calling well into the frailties of old age …

Last month:

What does it mean personally to be able to say, “The Lord is my shepherd”?

Explain the words, “I shall not want”.

Ps 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

The Lord gives us rest.

Consider. Would you put sheep in a land of waste, weeds and dried up grasses? Why not?

Green pastures literally means tender green grasses or herbs, a pleasant place. This is what we find in God. Not just rest, but nourishment. All that is needed to fill our soul with peace and rest is found in Him.

Consider. How does this work? We don’t literally find a pasture to lie down in, right? (Although, it sounds appealing!) As a child of God, we find rest in His truths written for us in His Word. Look back again to the first verse of this Psalm: The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. What are these "green pastures" but the Scriptures of truth -- always fresh, always rich, and never exhausted? There is no fear of biting the bare ground where the grass is long enough for the flock to lie down in it. Sweet and full are the doctrines of the gospel; fit food for souls, as tender grass is natural nutriment for sheep. When by faith we are enabled to find rest in the promises, we are like the sheep that lie down in the midst of the pasture; we find at the same moment both provender and peace, rest and refreshment, serenity and satisfaction”. Treasury of David

Does the fact of His care give you peace? Does the truth of His provision for everything you might need, put your mind at rest? Consider who you are and who God is. When we understand the assurance we have in Him and His grace towards us, we find safety and comfort.

Our Psalmist, David, was a shepherd so he well knew about pastures. At that time, a green pasture where the sheep were placed was often a penned in area where they not only had new spring grass to eat but also were safe and could rest without the threat of attack. If you’ve ever had teenagers or young adults in your house you understand the idea of going to ‘sleep’ with one eye open! You go to bed but really don’t get any rest until you hear the return of your ‘kids’, knowing they are safely home. Only then do you truly rest without concern. The rest we find in Jesus’ arms is completely satisfying because we know we are in the arms of safety, we don’t have to keep an ear listening or an eye open. We can trust in God’s care for us at all times and in every situation. He has everything under control.

The second half of Psalm 23:2 says, He leads me beside quiet waters.

Let’s think for a moment about water in general. The ocean can be beautiful when it’s calm and quiet, but also, it can be treacherous during a storm with large waves crashing all around. The sound of a gentle brook spilling over pebbles is relaxing and almost mesmerizing. Yet, when heavy rains cause water to flow fast, that same brook can become deadly in its power to devour the earth around it.

Consider, quiet waters. The words used to define quiet (or still in the KJV), are peace, comfort, ease and rest. God provides rest in a world where things are happening around us all the time. We have schedules, deadlines, dates to remember, expectations put upon us, and responsibilities required of us. Most of you, even in your latter years living in a place where some responsibility has been lifted off your shoulders, still have a list of things to get done or remember. Several of you probably are expected to make certain phone calls. Most of you still need to keep track of a meal schedule and several activities that are provided for you to take part in.

When we think of quiet waters, or a tranquil place, it is rest from all things around us. I treasure my ‘quiet’ time each morning. I turn off my phone, sit at my desk in the office and engross myself in God’s word. This is a place where I don’t think of a schedule, or a list of responsibilities or my concerns or worries. I just rest in God’s truths as I read and study my Bible and I am filled with the peace He offers. This is quiet waters, a hub where there is no disturbance, a place of calm.

My husband has suffered from multiple sclerosis for years, almost since the year we were married. He now has a brain affliction that is causing his personality and thinking to change. It is sad and scary to watch and it would be so easy to become fearful and focus on what might be. But this will not change the future God has planned and it will only feed into a heart that could be overtaken with the “what ifs”. Instead, I choose to find peace and rest and quietness of heart in God’s truths. How does this practically work, what does it look like? When the temptation to become fearful of the future begins to set in, I think of what is true. The truth is, none of us know the future and before our fears ever become real, something else could happen. In other words I can become overwhelmed by something that may never be. Instead, I can concentrate on today, on this moment, and what I have in Christ. Right now, I have an opportunity to invest in others; right now, I can make memories; right now, I can know that God promises to walk every step of the way with me into His perfect plan.

Where are you refreshed? Where do you find rest and safety? What helps you to focus on all things that are good and right and true, instead of the negative and unknowns?

We’re in the middle of summer months right now and we have experienced temperatures over 100˚. In countries where hot afternoons are common, the practice is to lie down for a bit in the afternoon in a cool place, out of the beating sun. The picture of a green, grassy field with a slowly meandering stream brings a sense of relief from the scorching heat.

Eze 34:15 "I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest," declares the Lord GOD.

Have you ever been lost? Most of us have been lost at one time or another. Two such incidents quickly come to my mind. Once I was driving from a very long distance with my three young children. After driving all day and into the night, I was excited to think we would finally be home in about an hour or so. Unfamiliar with the freeway system and in a day when technology had not yet provided a GPS system, I was left to my own sense of direction to navigate. Unfortunately, I made a wrong decision and drove myself and my children a few hours out of our way. Upon realizing my mistake, I’m thankful God protected us and gave me the energy and focus to get us all home safely. Another instance that comes to mind is much more embarrassing! Eons ago, I drove an ambulance for a living. This was back in the day of using a Thomas Guide. Reading a map well was essential for this position when time was of the essence. You had to depend on your work partner to give you correct directions while you maneuvered through traffic with lights and siren blaring. Printed maps did not always keep up with real construction changes. As a result, there were a few times when it seemed like you were circling the place of emergency without reaching the exact location. When you did finally arrive, the looks from bystanders said it all.

We all get lost, in all sorts of ways. Not just in direction, but in purpose. There is a familiar phrase most of us have heard, of someone ‘losing their way’. This means the bigger picture is lost, distractions along the way change our planned direction. Psalm 23:2 says “He leads me…” Matthew Poole’s Commentary remarks, “He leadeth me, lest I should wander and perish”. God leads us to what is good, to where we can rest when needed, to safety. God protects His sheep; He sustains them, carrying them when necessary, guiding them gently to Himself. God’s care for us will not end on earth. God’s children can look forward to the promise of being in His presence forever.

Re 7:16-17 "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and God shall wipe every tear from their eyes."

Our lives are a journey. We are expected to take part in this journey with action. We have been given a guide. Psalm 23:2 tells us that God is our guide, He is the One who leads us. He even knows when we may need to be led by the quiet waters and away from a storm.

God is good – He leads us to green pastures and unlike a green grassy knoll we may envision, God’s provision is never picked bare, it doesn’t turn brown with seasons; He leads us to quiet waters where drought cannot touch His constant source of refreshment. Do you depend on His provision for you in green pastures and quiet waters?

My God Understands

…coverage was flooded with news and reports on the mass shooting in a small church in Texas. What stuck in my mind is the pastor’s reply to the question of “Why do you think this happened?” He answered, “I don’t understand, but my God does”.

$C:\Users\Sharyn\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Word\praying.jpg$ “My God Understands”

As I was listening to CNN on the radio in my car yesterday on the way home from the grocery store, the coverage was flooded with news and reports on the mass shooting in a small church in Texas. What stuck in my mind is the pastor’s reply to the question of “Why do you think this happened?” He answered, “I don’t understand, but my God does”.

Only God sees clearly a man’s heart and motives. We can only speculate what may have driven someone to take the lives of so many innocent people. There are specialists who are looking at the past history of the criminal. Violence has been reported at earlier times in his life. Why? Can we fully comprehend what is in the mind and heart of another? Perhaps, there are those who can try in order to possibly prevent the reoccurrence of a similar act.

But, what we do know, is God understands. He knows perfectly what is going on. He alone has every answer. So where does this drive us? Hopefully, to Truth. To the Word. To what we can know.

1Ch 28:9 "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Job 28:20-24 "Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding? 21 "Thus it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the sky. 22 "Abaddon and Death say, 'With our ears we have heard a report of it.' 23 "God understands its way; And He knows its place. 24 "For He looks to the ends of the earth, And sees everything under the heavens.

Ps 33:14-15 From His dwelling place He looks out On all the inhabitants of the earth,15 He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works.

We can know that God understands. We can know that God will deliver perfect and righteous judgement.

1Sa 2:10a "Those who contend with the LORD will be shattered; against them He will thunder in the heavens, The LORD will judge the ends of the earth;

1Ch 16:33 Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD; For He is coming to judge the earth.

Ps 9:8 And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.

Ps 50:6 And the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is judge. Selah.

Ps 96:13 Before the LORD, for He is coming; for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in His faithfulness.

Ps 135:14 For the LORD will judge His people, And will have compassion on His servants.

Ec 3:17 I said to myself, "God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man," for a time for every matter and for every deed is there.

Isa 11:4 But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.

Eze 18:30 "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct," declares the Lord GOD. "Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you.

Eze 24:14 "I, the LORD, have spoken; it is coming and I shall act. I shall not relent, and I shall not pity, and I shall not be sorry; according to your ways and according to your deeds I shall judge you," declares the Lord GOD.'"

We can know that we can be saved from the judgement of death for our own sin.

Joh 3:17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.

Joh 12:44-50 And Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me does not believe in Me, but in Him who sent Me. 45 "And he who beholds Me beholds the One who sent Me. 46 "I have come [as] light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness. 47 "And if anyone hears My sayings, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. 49 "For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak. 50 "And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me."

Mr 16:16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Peace can be found outwardly in conditions of tranquility with others but true and lasting peace is only through a right relationship with God. Spiritual peace is possible even in a fallen world filled with violence.

1Co 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Jas 3:16-17 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

What we do know is we have something valuable to share with those who are hurting and injured and frightened by circumstances beyond their control. What we can do is pray for all those affected by sin in this world that they might know that God does in fact understand. That He will ultimately right what is wrong and that true peace in this difficult time is found in His mercy available to all those who believe in Him.

Make Lemonade

You know how you suggest to others different Bible verses to help with whatever circumstances they are facing? Usually, those scriptures stick in our mind because they have been instrumental in our own lives.

One of my favorite sections of scripture is familiar to most believers. It begins in Philippians Chapter 4 verse 6. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. To be anxious means to be disquieted, to be worried or nervous or uneasy. We are commanded to not be troubled by anything at all! Easier said than done, right? Instead of being worried we are to earnestly pray, presenting our requests to God. The result promised, when this is done, is peace – the opposite of a disquieted spirit – a quiet, restful, serenity of mind. These two verses go on to say that we cannot even begin to understand how peace can enter into our troubled hearts but, when we obey and act according to God’s word, it does and the result is a heart and mind that is protected in Christ Jesus.

The first time I truly studied this scripture in a pen-to-the-paper practical mode, I was in California and my son and his wife lived across the country. My young daughter-in-law was found to have an extremely large tumor which would require immediate and extensive surgery, followed by a long recovery and the question of whether pregnancy would ever be possible. It’s in those times especially that you feel the distance of miles that separate you from loved ones. I was unable to sleep and was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed by circumstances. It’s so cool how God uses His word to direct us to the place He wants us. I was led to Philippians 4 and when I carefully read verse eight, God showed me clearly there was a very practical exercise that would direct my thoughts to a place of rest. This was the first time I took out my notebook and physically wrote a list according to the categories in Phil 4:8: (I’ve done this several times since.)

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.”

After completing my list of all that was absolute truth, the facts; all that was honest and honorable; all that was just and pure and acceptable; and so forth, in connection with my son and his wife and the challenge they were facing, I had so much to ponder of God’s grace in their lives that my heart was put at rest once again.

There is a saying: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. How about adding to that? When life gives you lemons, make lemonade and dwell on God’s Truth – then you will be refreshed both inside and out! Dwelling on Truth – an incredible, practical remedy for discouragement. Sometimes life can seem overwhelmingly complicated, confusing, unfair and downright depressing.

Have you been in a place where you’ve almost had to physically will yourself to remain hopeful and joyful in the things that were true and honest and good so that the things that were unfair and dishonest and bad were unable to find a dwelling place in your heart? God understands and He offers His Divine direction.

Once again, in Philippians 4:9, God promises his peace with us as we seek to follow Him.

Php 4:9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.

When tears are at the surface, when the words don’t come, when you are tired and feel like giving up, or you don’t know which way to turn, focus heavenward. God’s prescription for healing has already been written.

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