Peace
Bill went home twelve weeks ago today.
Daily I cling to God and His promises.
Daily I cling to God and His promises.
One of those promises is His peace.
"I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation.
But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
In the world you will have tribulation.
But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
"I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace."
We want the peace Jesus offers.
We yearn for it.
We talk about it.
We read about it.
We perhaps even study about it.
We are content and thankful when we experience it.
"In the world you will have tribulation."
We want the peace Jesus offers.
We yearn for it.
We talk about it.
We read about it.
We perhaps even study about it.
We are content and thankful when we experience it.
"I have overcome the world."
We rejoice that He has overcome the world-
we sing songs of praise about
"victory in Jesus";
"the Lamb has overcome";
"our God is an awesome God"; We rejoice that He has overcome the world-
we sing songs of praise about
"victory in Jesus";
"the Lamb has overcome";
"how great Thou art.".
"In the world you will have tribulation."
It is this middle portion that often trips us up
and causes us to wrestle with our faith.
"In the world you will have tribulation."
and causes us to wrestle with our faith.
"In the world you will have tribulation."
Until God calls us home, we are still in the world.
Jesus told us that in the world we would have tribulation,
so why are we surprised by it?
Do we think He doesn't see what is going on?
Do we think He doesn't care that we are having a hard time?
Do we think He must be too busy to get involved?
Do we think He is too weak to prevent the raging storms?
"I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Do we think He wasn't quite honest when He made this promise of peace,
that He possibly even lied to us?
Do we equate peace with lack of conflict?
so why are we surprised by it?
Do we think He doesn't see what is going on?
Do we think He doesn't care that we are having a hard time?
Do we think He must be too busy to get involved?
Do we think He is too weak to prevent the raging storms?
"I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Do we think He wasn't quite honest when He made this promise of peace,
that He possibly even lied to us?
Do we equate peace with lack of conflict?
"I have said these things to you,"
We need to spend time reading and studying the Bible to know what "things" Jesus said.
"I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace."
Because the things He said are meant to teach us to know Him -to be connected to Him, so that we can live in Him. It is only in Him that we have peace.
"I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation."
Jesus tells us we are going to face tribulation. It is a fact. We do not get "tribulation prevention insurance" when we become Christ followers. He has invited us into relationship with Him and it is in that relationship that we find peace. In the midst of our tribulation.
Here is another one of the "but (God)" portions of Scripture.
"But take heart;"
Despite the fact that you and I are facing tribulation, take heart!
Why?
How?
How?
"But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare His own Son,
but gave Him up for us all—
how will He not also, along with Him,
graciously give us all things?
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?
It is God who justifies.
Who then is the one who condemns?
No one.
Christ Jesus who died—
more than that, who was raised to life—
is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through Him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers,
neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:31-39
Comments
Post a Comment
thank you for taking the time to share