Peace Live A River

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.

                                    (Isaiah 48:17-18 NIV)

 

Indeed! The Lord does know what is best for us. But, we often think we know better than God. We often choose the wrong paths and find ourselves in chaotic messes trying to figure out what went wrong and how in the world we're going to find some semblance of peace. What went wrong sometimes happens to be is that we rejected the Word of the Lord; we have rejected those things that our Father in heaven has sought to teach us. We have rejected the good gifts that He desires us to have and have chosen to follow in the ways of the world and we ultimately find ourselves wallowing in the depths of despair.

 

The world is a mess. We've helped to make it that way. But, no matter what kind of mess you find yourself in you can know peace. It is the peace that only God can give to us. In the midst of the storms, we can know peace that flows forever like a river. We can know peace as refreshing as the cool waters of a gently flowing river.

 

Do not fear! Do not despair! God is with you. Listen to Him and know the peace that only He can give. 

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Zephaniah 2 - Day of the LORD's Anger

"Gather together, gather yourselves together,
    you shameful nation,
before the decree takes effect
    and that day passes like windblown chaff,
before the Lord’s fierce anger
    comes upon you,
before the day of the Lord’s wrath
    comes upon you.
Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land,
    you who do what he commands.
Seek righteousness, seek humility;
    perhaps you will be sheltered 
   on the day of the Lord’s anger." (Zephaniah 2:1-3 NIV)

The LORD has given His children of Judah many, many opportunities to repent and seek the LORD and do His will. They appear to be more than just a little slow in the repentance department. But, here's one more call to repent, for them seek righteousness, humility, and to seek the LORD before the day of the LORD's anger falls upon them.

We are all given more than enough opportunity to seek the LORD. How many chances do we really think we deserve? I guarantee you the LORD has already given us more than we deserve. But, for His Son, who suffered on the cross for us, we would all be destined to fall on the day of His anger.

Thanks be to God, for He has been gracious and merciful to us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Proverbs 10 - A Wise Son Brings Joy

I'm thinking we may have forgotten to teach some of the this parable to the next generations, or maybe the generation before us forgot to teach it to us, or maybe it is as Proverbs 10:8 (NIV) says:  "The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin." Maybe it's not that we weren't taught, but that some simply refuse to listen.

This chapter is full of 2-liners like "Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth." (vs. 4) or "Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. (vs. 17) or "The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing." (vs 28)

It might even be a good thing for a confirmation class to do some digging into the book of Proverbs :) Just a little more memory work... Just kidding... I am hoping, though, that everyone is taking the time to read this Book. It is light enough reading that if you skip a day (which you shouldn't) you can take it in the next.

God's Peace - Pr. J.