On Saturday, Oct. 8, I wrote of the path of our comings and goings - a path based on the solid rock of Jesus Christ ... a path determined not by our life or our experience, but by God's word.
When we abide in God's Word and stay focused on Him and not Everything Else surrounding us, we find God's peace.
The promise given in Isaiah 26:3 reigns true -- "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."
God will keep you and me in perfect peace (whole, genuine well-being), whose mind is stayed (focused, fixed) on Him, because we trust in Him.
The path of Peace is
"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, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)
When we abide in God's Word and stay focused on Him and not Everything Else surrounding us, we find God's peace.
The promise given in Isaiah 26:3 reigns true -- "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."
God will keep you and me in perfect peace (whole, genuine well-being), whose mind is stayed (focused, fixed) on Him, because we trust in Him.
The path of Peace is
- the way of faith
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me." (John 14:1)
"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, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)
The path of Peace is
- the way of righteousness
Do right, be right, obedient to the judgments -- precepts -- testimonies -- commandments -- The Law, wholeheartedly, lovingly.
"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes,will find so doing." (Matthew 24:45-46)
The path of Peace is
- God's work for us
God empowers us to be a blessing to and for another. It is He who is at work; it is simply us He uses as a channel. We can do nothing without Him -- He is the performer.
"Lord, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us. O Lord our God, other masters besides You have had dominion over us; but by You only we make mention of Your name. They are dead, they will not live; they are deceased, they will not rise. ... You have increased the nation, O Lord, You have increased the nation; You are glorified; You have expanded all the borders of the land." (Isaiah 26:12-15)
God empowers us to confess His name, to share His word, to enlarge His territory, to be and do His desire, His will.
It is God who empowers some to rise from the dead to a new life in the heavens and others never to rise, but sentenced to the bottomless pit of hell and damnation.
"And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt." (Daniel 12:2)
"Jesus said, "I am the Resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." (John 11:25)
The path of Peace
- offers protection from His punishment
God instructs His people to go into seclusion, a "hiding place," and stay there until the punishment God is extending has passed. He will let us know when the time is right to withdraw from our place of hiding and come back into the Light.
"Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity." (Isaiah 26:20-21)
Wherever God sets us, places us, in the path of our comings and goings, we can have peace in the midst of it.
Do you want to escape the wrath of God? ... Trust in Him!
(based on notes from the Oct. 9 sermon, "The Path of Peace," (Isaiah 26)
Immanuel Baptist Church, Cedar Rapids
No comments:
Post a Comment