1 Thess 5 - Live in the Light

1 Thessalonians 5 NIV
Paul's closes his first letter to the Thessalonians reminding them that should be diligent in serving the Lord and doing His will. We ought not be thinking that we can slip away into the darkness for secret rendezvous and no one will know. God will know. Be prepared always, for the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. It will come at a time when we are thinking "all is well with the world" even though all might not be well with our souls.

We are children of the light, so we must walk in the light. "... since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet." (vs 8)

And... may "the grace of our Lord be with you." (vs 28)

God's Peace - Pr.  J

John 4:27-42 Come and See

John 4:27-42 NIV
So what did this "woman" at the well do in response to Jesus knowing all about her and still inviting her to drink of the water of life?  She went and told. She told them to come and see for themselves.

So when was the last time you told anyone to "come and see?" When was the last time you invited anyone to come and hear for yourself; come and drink from the water of life; come and meet the Savior of the world? It's about time, isn't it?

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 4:1-26 Jesus Knows and Still Invites

John 4:1-26 NIV
Five husbands?! Who could endure that? Who would even consider that today? I imagine there are a few, but the percentage of women who want to learn to live with five different men in one lifetime is probably pretty low. Of course, in Jesus' day, women were not much more than property. They needed a man to care for them or they would not survive. If not a husband, then a son or other male relative would care for them.

This woman not only has had five husbands, she now is living with a man who is not her husband and just as bad (according to many Jews), she is a Samaritan. They were not considered to be equal with the Jews, by the Jews. Samaritans were people to be avoided.

Jesus knows all this. He knows she is a sinner. He knows she is a Samaritan. Yet, he communicates with her. He asks her for a drink of water and invites her to ask him for a drink of the living water which only he can provide. Jesus does not shun her. He does not shun anyone. All are invited to drink of this cup of living water. Will you? Will you drink of the cup of life? Will you worship in Spirit and in the truth?


God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 17:1-13 - Mountain Top Experience

"After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus." (Matt 17:1-13 NIV)

How did they know? How did they know that the two talking with Jesus were Moses and Elijah? Scripture does not tell us. Maybe, it was from the content of the conversation. Maybe, their history and their traditions stirred something in them so that they just felt it and knew it within their own spirits. Maybe, the Holy Spirit moving upon them, inspired and told them. Maybe it was a little of all these things combined.

How can we know anything? We can know by the testimony of two or three witnesses. This testimony, of three, is found in our reading today: "While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!'” (Matt 17:5)

The same words spoken by the Father at Jesus' baptism were spoken at his transfiguration: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. listen to him!"

The three disciples, in fear and trembling, witness the glory of Jesus Christ, our LORD, at his transfiguration. May God prepare our hearts and minds to witness the full glory of God. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. I am going to have to break some of these chapters down into sections for daily readings. There is just too much in them to even attempt covering it all....

Isaiah 48 - Peace Like A River

Silver River, Aura, MI

"This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.
If only you had paid attention to my commands,
your peace would have been like a river,
    your well-being like the waves of the sea.”" (Isa 48:17-18 NIV)

The hymn "When Peace Like a River" or "All Is Well With My Soul" is a favorite among many. It is one of my favorite hymns. It was one of Pr. Bob Manthei's, who served here before me. It was written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873. Not long before, his four daughters had died in a collision with another ship as they crossed the Atlantic. His wife survived and sent him this message, "Saved alone." Later, as he, himself, crossed the Atlantic and neared the spot where his daughters had died, he was inspired to write this hymn. The LORD, in His mercy has taught us that no matter what befalls us, it can be well with our soul. All who abide in Christ will know the peace that only He can give.

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

Today, Isaiah reminds us that we are to turn from worshipping false gods, and to trust in the LORD, our God, and all will be well with our soul. Our peace will be like a river. But, for those who turn their backs on Him, there will be no peace. “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

When will we turn from our stubborn, stiffnecked ways to live in peace? To live wholly for and in Christ? "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.  For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." (Eph 2:14-18)

And... all is well with my soul! May it be well with your's.

God's Peace - Pr. J