Peace of Mind Through These Troubled Days

 

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

 This made me think of our Pastor’s message this morning: More often we trust our ourselves rather that trusting God!

Peace of Mind Through These Troubled Days

"Let love of brethren continue.  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it" (Heb. 13:1-2).

 Hey Gang:  I have a fabulous promise for you this morning, one that can make your day a heap sight better and it comes straight from the Master’s mouth: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid?” (John 14:27).  Should we place this promise in the commandment file?  I believe when we take things in our own hands it grieves the Father.

  We might say, "that’s easy for Him to say, I mean He doesn’t know what I am going through". (Hebrews 4:15) Oh, but He/Jesus does!  Note this instruction (above) that He gave to His disciples on the eve of his crucifixion.  It was meant to give them comfort and reassurance, in what would be the darkest hour of their faith. 

 Christ added yet another assurance in the same verse: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.”  When presented at the Temple, the prophet Zacharias said of the coming Messiah, “That he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, and the days of our life.” (Luke 1:74-75). 

 Did you know the most effective treatment program for criminal violators; require them face their victims, apologize and make restitution for their crime, When questioned as to why this was so effective, the common answer was, "It cleared my conscience and it made me feel so good; it motivated me to change my behavior.”

 In these verses we find one of the primary reasons that Jesus came to earth and died for sinful humankind – that we might walk with God without fear and enjoy his peace all the days of our lives.  There is no question that Satan is going to throw road- blocks in our path but, how neat to know that we have a God who will neither leave us or forsake us, who knows every hair on our head, every flower that grows and every bird that flies.  Wow, thank you Lord for that assurance.

 Soooo, my friends, if you are having a tough time this morning, focus on God’s Peace and seek out someone who is worse off than you and be a Good Samaritan to them.  You will feel better and God will reward you for your love and mercy and compassion.  When Jesus taught, "Blessed (Happy) are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy" (Matt.5:7),   He was not just uttering words- but giving a Law of Reciprocity.

 Blessings

Gramps