This morning I was watching the news and they were talking about a deal with the Russians. One guy stepped up to the podium and told how the Russians can't be trusted.
Who can you trust these days? We have enemies around every corner. Even though we are a major provider of humanitarian aid, we still have everyone gunning for us. When can we just be at peace?
According to the scriptures, we were enemies of God. As a result, we had no peace with Him.
Read about it in Romans 5:1-11 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%205:1-11&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)
The Apostle Paul teaches that because of our sin, we had become enemies of God. Remember, sin is rebellion against God. It is like Pinocchio rebelling against his creator, Geppetto. Not willing to listen to him, despising him and at times intentionally doing things to hurt him. That is what our sin has done to our creator, God. As a result, we are enemies.
In war, it is better to kill than to be killed, right? Most Generals and Commanders understand loss but they don't go into battle desiring everyone of their men to die. Victory in battle is connected to life, not death. Since we are enemies of God, victory would be our death and His life. But God did the opposite. He died and let us live.
He died so that we could have peace with one another. His death brought reconciliation. His death brought about forgiveness for those who request it. His death brought life to our dead souls. He made peace between us.
That is good news this Christmas. God did something so extraordinary, that it won't ever be forgotten.
Are you will to let something go instead of getting revenge? Are you willing to take the hurt instead of hurting? Are you willing for peace instead of war?
As you close: Thank God for His brave act in dying for us when it should have been us dying. Thank God for forgiveness and mercy because of Jesus. Thank God that we are no longer enemies of God, but His children when we surrender our lives to His Son, Jesus.
God Bless!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
HOPE - Peace with God Day 2
If pleasing God was based upon works, how will you ever know if you have done enough? You can not find peace with God based upon works. You will never be able to do enough and you will never know if you have arrived at the required destination. So what is it that pleases God? How can I know that Him and I are at peace with one another?
One day a student of the "Law" approached Jesus with this very thought in mind.
Read about it in Matthew 22:34-40 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A34-40&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)
What is the greatest commandment? What is it that I can do to make God happy with me? Those are the questions that are filling this guys mind. We have lived with those questions in mind too. We wonder at times if we did enough good things, would God make life easier for us. We wonder if we were nice enough, or gave enough, would he give us more than we could ever imagine. We all want God to be happy with us. But what does Jesus say to answer his questions?
Love! Love God. Love people. It's not in doing, it's in loving. Loving will be reflected in some sort of doing but loving and doing are two distinct things. If you do and have no love, it means nothing. If you love without doing, it means nothing. This love is a choice. It is a choice to love God and by choosing to love God, you are also choosing to listen/follow Him. If you choose to love others, you are choosing to do that through compassion, mercy and generousity.
What pleases the heart of God is love for Him. That means you have chosen to believe in Him and have chosen to surrender your life to Him. As a result, you experience a new start in life, forgiveness of sin and the willingness to listen/follow Him. This is the peace that you can find with God. This is what pleases the heart of God.
Do a little heart examination. Do you love God? Do you believe He is God, Creator of all things, Redeemer of mankind, and Guide for your life? Are you willing to follow Him to whatever end?
If you can say, "I love God. I have given Him my heart, mind, soul and all my strength," you have peace with God.
As you close: God is looking at your heart. Be honest with Him about your heart right now. Let Him know where you need His help in loving God to the fullest.
God Bless!
One day a student of the "Law" approached Jesus with this very thought in mind.
Read about it in Matthew 22:34-40 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A34-40&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)
What is the greatest commandment? What is it that I can do to make God happy with me? Those are the questions that are filling this guys mind. We have lived with those questions in mind too. We wonder at times if we did enough good things, would God make life easier for us. We wonder if we were nice enough, or gave enough, would he give us more than we could ever imagine. We all want God to be happy with us. But what does Jesus say to answer his questions?
Love! Love God. Love people. It's not in doing, it's in loving. Loving will be reflected in some sort of doing but loving and doing are two distinct things. If you do and have no love, it means nothing. If you love without doing, it means nothing. This love is a choice. It is a choice to love God and by choosing to love God, you are also choosing to listen/follow Him. If you choose to love others, you are choosing to do that through compassion, mercy and generousity.
What pleases the heart of God is love for Him. That means you have chosen to believe in Him and have chosen to surrender your life to Him. As a result, you experience a new start in life, forgiveness of sin and the willingness to listen/follow Him. This is the peace that you can find with God. This is what pleases the heart of God.
Do a little heart examination. Do you love God? Do you believe He is God, Creator of all things, Redeemer of mankind, and Guide for your life? Are you willing to follow Him to whatever end?
If you can say, "I love God. I have given Him my heart, mind, soul and all my strength," you have peace with God.
As you close: God is looking at your heart. Be honest with Him about your heart right now. Let Him know where you need His help in loving God to the fullest.
God Bless!
Monday, December 20, 2010
HOPE - Peace with God Day 1
If there is ever a time that is void of peace, it seems like Christmas. Even though peace surrounds this little baby boy born in Bethlehem, we find ourselves without peace. With all the hustle and bustle to get things done, we feel exhausted and worn out. Mornings come too soon and the day is over too quickly.
This week we are going to be talking about peace with God and with those around us. We all need peace and we are going to find it in only one place, Jesus.
Read Isaiah 9:6-7 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+9%3A6-7&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)
Isaiah is a prophet of God. Prophets would receive word from the Lord and share it with the people. Sometimes these words were words of judgement. Sometimes they were words of encouragement and sometimes these words were words about the future. This is one of those futuristic passages, yet it should give them hope right then.
He will be called...Prince of Peace. He will be the one to usher in peace like a royal leader. Many times leadership brings peace. Why? Because people feel at peace when the leader is around.
For instance, think of Bret Favre of the Minnesota Vikings. If you don't have any idea what I'm talking about, google it. Anyway, the team appears apprehensive and weak without Bret as Quarterback. They don't score touchdowns, guys drop passes, and even the running game appears slow. (I attended the rescheduled game against the Giants because of their collapsed roof and w/o Favre as QB, that is exactly what they did.) But something happens to the team when he is in the game. They calm down, they focus and they play very competitively.
Jesus is that kind of leader and even more so. What Isaiah was saying about Jesus is that when He comes, He will bring peace to the people. They will find rest in their souls because of Him. Think about it. How many people describe the peaceful feeling they have when they surrender their lives to Him? Many, if not all. He brings peace. Even when it is difficult in life, we can rest in His secure hands.
Do you need to be reminded of that security? You are secure in His hands. He can bring peace to your soul. If you are anxious, pray. Ask Him for His peace and then trust Him in the moments ahead.
As you close: What worries you? Talk to the Lord about it and ask for His peace in those situations. And then trust Him!
God Bless!
This week we are going to be talking about peace with God and with those around us. We all need peace and we are going to find it in only one place, Jesus.
Read Isaiah 9:6-7 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+9%3A6-7&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)
Isaiah is a prophet of God. Prophets would receive word from the Lord and share it with the people. Sometimes these words were words of judgement. Sometimes they were words of encouragement and sometimes these words were words about the future. This is one of those futuristic passages, yet it should give them hope right then.
He will be called...Prince of Peace. He will be the one to usher in peace like a royal leader. Many times leadership brings peace. Why? Because people feel at peace when the leader is around.
For instance, think of Bret Favre of the Minnesota Vikings. If you don't have any idea what I'm talking about, google it. Anyway, the team appears apprehensive and weak without Bret as Quarterback. They don't score touchdowns, guys drop passes, and even the running game appears slow. (I attended the rescheduled game against the Giants because of their collapsed roof and w/o Favre as QB, that is exactly what they did.) But something happens to the team when he is in the game. They calm down, they focus and they play very competitively.
Jesus is that kind of leader and even more so. What Isaiah was saying about Jesus is that when He comes, He will bring peace to the people. They will find rest in their souls because of Him. Think about it. How many people describe the peaceful feeling they have when they surrender their lives to Him? Many, if not all. He brings peace. Even when it is difficult in life, we can rest in His secure hands.
Do you need to be reminded of that security? You are secure in His hands. He can bring peace to your soul. If you are anxious, pray. Ask Him for His peace and then trust Him in the moments ahead.
As you close: What worries you? Talk to the Lord about it and ask for His peace in those situations. And then trust Him!
God Bless!
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