Peace, Peace, Wonderful Peace!

"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" (John 16:33)

W. George Cooper and Warren Cornell, at a Methodist camp meeting near West Bend, Wisconsin in 1889, wrote these words together:

Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!

But is there true peace in the world today, beloved? Certainly not among governments and nations! So what kind of peace was the focus of Cornell and Cooper's words? And even more important, what kind of peace was Jesus promising to His disciples as He prepared them for the work that He had for them to do after He had departed from them?

Jesus knew that the work to which He was sending them would require of them a sense of inward peace that they themselves would not be able to produce. As He said to them - "in the world you shall have tribulation" - the Greek word thlipsis referring to things that press in upon us, that put us in a "bench vise" of circumstances. He knew full well that what faced them in their kingdom-building work would sorely try them and test them beyond the limits of mere human determination and will-power.

So He promised them His own divine peace, a peace that operates best in the face of the trials and turmoil of this life. This peace would become their legacy, just as it is our own legacy today as those whose "watch" it is in the vineyard of service unto Jesus Christ. Nor would His peace be some sort of ethereal or abstract concept which would "trick" the mind into thinking that all is well when in reality it is not. He confirmed the reality of His peace by declaring to them, "I have overcome the world." Standing there that day in the very shadow of Golgotha, Jesus of Nazareth claimed victory over the world! Satan would not succeed in keeping Him from the cross, nor in keeping Him in the tomb. He would rise victoriously over sin, death, and hell and reign supremely as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And that reality would be the source of their everlasting peace.

What kind of mountain are you facing today, beloved? Whatever it is, the peace of Jesus Christ has the power to carry you through and beyond your trial to the accomplished purpose for which He allowed it to come into your life in the first place. And in facing every such challenge as you stand your watch in the vineyard, recall with me the promise of the Apostle John to the believers of His day:

"You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4)

In the darkest moment of his life, having lost fortune, home, and all four of his daughters in a tragic accident at sea, Horatio Spafford was inspired by God's peace to write these words that have comforted and uplifted millions of God's people for many years:

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll -
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
'It is well, it is well with my soul.'

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control -
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend!
Even so, it is well with my soul!

Peace, peace, wonderful peace! And why not? After all, He is the Prince of Peace! As we light the Advent candle of Peace this Christmas season, remember the price that was paid for us to have His own eternal peace!

Ron

Is There Assurance? I Sure Hope So!

"For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4)

We've all done it before, beloved, that wistful fingers-crossed-behind-the-back longing for something we want or need that is just on the horizon! How many times have you said to yourself, "I sure hope that works out"? What we need so much to understand is that no one wants more for us to be people of hope than does God!

This is the Advent season and, if you are accustomed to lighting Advent candles, then you know that this past Sunday was the time to light the candle of Hope. But is the hope that we find in Jesus' coming that "wistful fingers-crossed-behind-the back" kind that longs for something which may or may not happen? Not at all! This word in the original language of the New Testament could and should be translated "assurance." You see, God wants us as His children to be assured concerning what He has done for us in Jesus Christ.

And just what is the source of this assurance which the Advent season proclaims so joyfully to us? Here the Apostle Paul told the saints in Rome that our assurance comes from two directions. The first of these is "the encouragement of the Scriptures." The promises of God are found clearly laid out for us within His Word, beloved! If we would have hope, then, if we would be assured concerning what God has in store for us, we need to lean heavily upon the Scriptures.

The second direction from which comes our assurance as believers is our own personal "perseverance." This word in the original language means literally "a bearing up under." It means simply that we determine to stand under whatever circumstances of life God has allowed to come our way and to trust that He is in control and that He has a divine purpose for what He is doing. As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego told the king of Babylon that they would not bow down and worship false gods even if Jehovah did allow them to be cast into the furnace of fire (Daniel 3:18), so we today must determine that come what may we are going to trust God and be faithful to His Word.

Jesus is Himself God's gift of "hope" or the assurance of eternal life! As we celebrate another Advent season, let the candle of Hope remind you of the assurance that you can have through your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Is there assurance, then? Yes, praise God! There is...and His name is Jesus!

Ron

Thanksgiving: The Atmosphere of Heaven

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name" (Psalm 100:4)

Thanksgiving is so much more than a holiday, beloved! It is personally my favorite time of year, yet inherent in the celebration itself is something timeless. Thanksgiving should be for each one of us a way of life. And no more clearly can this truth be seen than in the words of the psalmist as he described how the people of Israel were to approach God in worship.

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving" - The gates of the temple were those access points into the place where was represented for the people the presence of Jehovah. The psalmist here pointed out to all potential worshipers that worship began with a thankful heart even before the gate was reached. How often today do we as worshipers drive into the church parking lot excited about what is about to take place, beloved? How often do we say to ourselves: "I can't wait to get to church today!"? The focus of the psalmist's words, then, seems to be more about the attitude of the heart leading up to worship than about the order of the worship service printed in the church bulletin.

"And His courts with praise" - The courts of the temple were the open places in which the people gathered for worship. In those courts the people of Israel praised and glorified God. Thus, they entered with an attitude of thanksgiving and that enabled them to worship with a heart full of praise.

"Bless His name" - Only through a heart of thankfulness could those worshipers truly "bless" the name of Jehovah, beloved. As they reflected upon His deliverance of them in the past, of His loving watch-care over them, could they praise Him and thank Him and trust Him in their present circumstances. How important, then, to worshipers of every generation is that attitude of thanksgiving with which we approach the presence of God!

How thankful is your heart today? What has He done for you that fills your heart with hope and peace and joy and love? Thanksgiving is more than a holiday, beloved! It is the very atmosphere of heaven and because it is, it is to be the pervasive atmosphere of our living as Christians. Have a glorious and Christ-honoring Thanksgiving season!

Ron

That Loving Line in the Sand

"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18)

Everyone has undoubtedly heard the term "drawing a line in the sand," beloved. This phrase speaks descriptively of one who takes a stand on an issue and refuses to back down from it or cross it in violation of his conscience. As Christians today, we are often called upon to "draw a line in the sand" and take a stand for what is right.

In the familiar account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace, we find three servants of God who definitely drew their own line in the sand! Given the ultimatum to either bow down and worship an idolatrous image in Babylon or to suffer the wrath of the king, they made their position clear in a way that left everyone present, including Nebuchadnezzar, with no doubt whatsoever about where they stood. And it is in their example that we find wonderful lessons for those lines in the sand that we at times are called upon to draw today.

Note first that in responding to the king of Babylon, they showed him the courtesy and respect his position deserved. The problem with far too many "lines in the sand" today, beloved, is that they lack the loving attitude which every believer ought to present. Very simply, we do not have to be mean-spirited in taking a stand for Jesus Christ! The three Hebrew servants of Jehovah were not and we must not be today either.

Note next that they made clear that their trust was in God's "ability" and not in His actions. As I heard one preacher describe it, they "left room for God to be God." Imagine how embarrassed they would have been had they declared that God would never allow them to be cast into the furnace! They chose not to presume upon God's actions, but rather to trust in His ability. God may just have a different plan than the one you are imagining, beloved! Leave room for Him to "be God" in your life.

Note also that they exhibited to those present an unswerving resolve as to what they would and would not do. Leaving room for God to be God - "even if He does not" - they declared to the king that they would absolutely not bow down in obedience to to a wrongful edict and worship a false god. We simply cannot ever put a price-tag on our commitment to Jesus Christ, beloved! Our faithfulness must become for us a "non-negotiable" issue.

And though they went into the furnace as threatened, God did a work in and through them that was far greater than if He had simply kept them from the furnace in the first place. The king recanted, admitted his error, and declared Jehovah to be "the Most High God." Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego had drawn a loving line in the sand and God honored their devotion and used their faithfulness to bring Himself great glory.

In every generation, beloved, lines in the sand will have to be drawn. Perhaps you have some experience already with drawing them. But how we draw them and whom we honor in doing so is of paramount importance! Draw loving lines, beloved. God will work through you as He did through them.

Ron

The Wonderful Work of the Word!

"And all the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them" (Nehemiah 8:12)

The book of Nehemiah has rightly been called the book of "revival," beloved! In the example of the children of Israel and the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem we find glorious principles of personal revival that work in and through our lives today.

What is so vital for us to see is what the attitude of those returned Jews was to the Word of God. In the first verse of this eighth chapter we discover that the people "asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses." They revered the truth of God so much that they wanted to have it read and taught to them. And as it was read to them, they stood in respect for it as the truth of God.

Not only did they ask for it, however, but when it was read they were attentive to it. They listened intently as Ezra the scribe read to them for hours. Why is it that we have such difficulty today listening to a Sunday morning sermon that is certainly far shorter in duration than what the children of Israel gladly heard that day? I fear that it is often because we do not truly revere the Word of God and its place in our lives!

Then, as they listened carefully, they studied and understood what they had heard. The Levites sat them down in groups and methodically explained the meaning of what was read to them. As they were taught, their hearts were opened by God's Spirit and they understood.

Once they came to understand God's truth for their lives, they hearts were pierced through and they felt sorrow for their sins and disobedience. Guilt and shame flooded over them all and they began to weep publicly in response to the moving of God's Spirit.

It was at this point that Nehemiah spoke those words now so well known and repeated by so many believers today. Urging them to replace their sorrow with joy over the reality of heartfelt repentance, he declared to them: "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (v.10). That was a great day, a holy day, a day for national rejoicing and celebration. They had heard God's Word and it had changed their lives! Is that what happens to you in church today, beloved? If not, why not?

Nehemiah sent them away with instructions to reach out to others who had nothing and to share their abundance with them. Thus, all had equal reason to celebrate and worship the goodness of God together as His restored people. What a picture of how the church of Jesus Christ ought to be ministering and worshiping today!

Ron