Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. ~ Romans 5:1 (NLT)
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We strive for and value many things in this world. We work hard to earn a living, raise our kids the best we know how, and enjoy hard-earned recreation and rest time. We value our friends and family, and our liberty in America. If we are connected to a local church body, we place importance on serving in ministry, meeting needs and sharing Jesus.
But is there anything more important, more valuable, more worth desiring than peace with God? Is this not one of the most basic of all desires of humanity? The countless religions of the world tell us much about man's desire for peace with God, for a right relationship with Him that has no barriers or fear of disconnect.
If you have made a decision to believe in Jesus, the Son of God, and receive the gift He offers of new life from the inside out, you have already attained the greatest treasure that can ever be had on this planet! You are set free, changed from death to life! You are at peace with God, where there is no longer fear of looking into His eyes and seeing condemnation! You can say, "Amen!" -- it's great news!
Perhaps today we need to pare down our thoughts to the profound truth that we have peace with God through the saving work of Jesus Christ. We don't need to clean up our lives first...God knows we are fallen creatures. We don't need to work hard doing good so God will keep loving us....He simply does.
If Jesus is your Lord and Master, you have the greatest treasure of all time! Nothing else should compare with His gift of salvation and our peace with God. Many people in this world are searching high and low, working hard to have peace with God, but missing the mark -- weariness and guilt still plague them, despite all of their best efforts. May we ask God to give us the boldness to share with them the good news of Jesus. If they find Him, they have it all...all that's really important.
Love,
Joelene
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Verse of the Day - Proverbs 3:26
...the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
~ Proverbs 3:26 (NLT)
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Chapter 3 of the book of Proverbs speaks of wisdom and the blessings it provides for those who seek it. Those who seek true wisdom seek God and His ways and not only do His will because it is the path of peace and security, but because they love Him and show that love through obedience. And for those who seek God, He is their security.
You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. ~ Proverbs 3:25-26
I think of the story of Noah. I saw a movie many years ago of the flood, and I remember the scene when the rains came down in a torrent and the people began to scream and run in terror. They had nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. They had no security. But Noah and his family were safe...inside the ark.
Noah listened to God, even though people laughed at him for building a boat in the middle of the dry ground. They laughed at the thought of "rain". Water from the sky? How absurd! But Noah was a godly man and understood the wisdom of listening to the Lord, instead of the thoughts of man, who strive only for earthly pleasure and personal gain. He chose the Lord as his security, and his foot didn't get caught in the trap that led to the destruction of mankind.
Do we trust God to be our security, our confidence? When disasters, such as earthquakes and tsunamis, strike the nations, are we fearful for our lives? Do these verses say that all godly people are spared natural disasters?
We know that isn't true. Those who follow God are swept away in natural disaster as are the ungodly. But perhaps the trap...the snare...is fear. Those who don't know God cannot have a true security of eternal life. And those who are unsure of what's behind the death curtain are afraid. Afraid of what's on the other side. I think deep down they know it's a scary place without God. They are caught in the trap of fear.
So let God shine like a lighthouse for you. Hold onto Him with all of your strength. Trust His wisdom and knowledge and understanding to guide you as you live this life. There is no greater security than clinging to the Lord God. No matter what waters swirl around your feet, no matter how the earth shakes, you can rest your soul in the arms of God. Trust Him. Trust and obey.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way! While we do his good will, he abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.
(Refrain:) Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, but our toil he doth richly repay; not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, but is blest if we trust and obey. (Refrain)
But we never can prove the delights of his love until all on the altar we lay; for the favor he shows, for the joy he bestows, are for them who will trust and obey. (Refrain)
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet, or we'll walk by his side in the way; what he says we will do, where he sends we will go; never fear, only trust and obey. (Refrain)
That old hymn is archaic in its language, but if you take the time to really grasp the meaning, it can have great significance in our walk with the Lord. Let us make the Lord our security today, trusting Him with all that we have, and being obedient to His wisdom and His ways. Because fear is trampled on the path of confidence in the Lord.
Love,
Joelene
~ Proverbs 3:26 (NLT)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 3 of the book of Proverbs speaks of wisdom and the blessings it provides for those who seek it. Those who seek true wisdom seek God and His ways and not only do His will because it is the path of peace and security, but because they love Him and show that love through obedience. And for those who seek God, He is their security.
You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. ~ Proverbs 3:25-26
I think of the story of Noah. I saw a movie many years ago of the flood, and I remember the scene when the rains came down in a torrent and the people began to scream and run in terror. They had nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. They had no security. But Noah and his family were safe...inside the ark.
Noah listened to God, even though people laughed at him for building a boat in the middle of the dry ground. They laughed at the thought of "rain". Water from the sky? How absurd! But Noah was a godly man and understood the wisdom of listening to the Lord, instead of the thoughts of man, who strive only for earthly pleasure and personal gain. He chose the Lord as his security, and his foot didn't get caught in the trap that led to the destruction of mankind.
Do we trust God to be our security, our confidence? When disasters, such as earthquakes and tsunamis, strike the nations, are we fearful for our lives? Do these verses say that all godly people are spared natural disasters?
We know that isn't true. Those who follow God are swept away in natural disaster as are the ungodly. But perhaps the trap...the snare...is fear. Those who don't know God cannot have a true security of eternal life. And those who are unsure of what's behind the death curtain are afraid. Afraid of what's on the other side. I think deep down they know it's a scary place without God. They are caught in the trap of fear.
So let God shine like a lighthouse for you. Hold onto Him with all of your strength. Trust His wisdom and knowledge and understanding to guide you as you live this life. There is no greater security than clinging to the Lord God. No matter what waters swirl around your feet, no matter how the earth shakes, you can rest your soul in the arms of God. Trust Him. Trust and obey.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way! While we do his good will, he abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.
(Refrain:) Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, but our toil he doth richly repay; not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, but is blest if we trust and obey. (Refrain)
But we never can prove the delights of his love until all on the altar we lay; for the favor he shows, for the joy he bestows, are for them who will trust and obey. (Refrain)
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet, or we'll walk by his side in the way; what he says we will do, where he sends we will go; never fear, only trust and obey. (Refrain)
That old hymn is archaic in its language, but if you take the time to really grasp the meaning, it can have great significance in our walk with the Lord. Let us make the Lord our security today, trusting Him with all that we have, and being obedient to His wisdom and His ways. Because fear is trampled on the path of confidence in the Lord.
Love,
Joelene
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