No Jesus, No Peace!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

What were the things Jesus told them? Jesus said so much to His disciples that it would be time consuming to try to explain them all, but if we start at verse nineteen, Jesus sensed the questions they were about to ask Him and He answered them before they spoke. He told them in a little while they would not see Him, but a while after that, they would. How confusing is that?

Seeing their confusion, He used the birth of a child and the pain the mother experiences and the pain she forgets because of the joy of seeing her baby. Jesus reminded them that He had been speaking to them about certain things figuratively, but the time would come would He would speak, literally and they would understand. He was trying to prepare them for His arrest, crucifixion, and ultimate resurrection. After His resurrection, they would ask whatever they wanted from God in Jesus' name and they would have it. But with the benefits also came responsibility and in the world, He warned, we (His disciples by faith) would have trouble, but He would be with us and therefore we can have peace in the midst of trouble.

Do we really believe this--there is peace with Jesus?
When we are scorned and ridiculed because of our faith, do we have peace within?
When we experience hardships and grieve over the loss of loved ones, do we have peace within?
When we experience angst on our jobs or in our homes, do we have peace within?

If we are not able to experience peace in the midst of the trials we face, do we really have Jesus in our lives and do we really believe what He said?
The world is in chaos and much confusion and that confusion and chaos is a result of there being no peace in the hearts of those who refute and deny Jesus!
If we want to see peace in the land, we must promote Jesus!
If we want to see peace in our homes, we must establish Jesus as our source of peace!
If we want to see peace in the world, we must pray that all will receive Jesus as their Personal Savior and rest in His peace!

We can enjoy peace within as long as He reigns within our hearts. No Jesus, No Peace!

Who People Say We Are!

"Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” (Mark 8:27 NLT)

When Jesus asked this question, it was not randomly asked. He had been paying attention to the interactions between the people and His disciples and knew they had been discussing among themselves, who He was. And notice--He did not ask them "in front of the people" they were ministering to; He asked them while they were walking along by themselves--out of earshot of others.

After a bit of discussion and it was established what most thought, Jesus asked them another question, "Who do you say I am?" Granted those who did not know Him, intimately, might have various thoughts as to who He was, but surely those who walked with Him daily, ate with Him, and prayed with Him, would know this answer. The only record we have is Peter's response, "You are the Messiah!" And Jesus warned them not to tell anyone else. In another passage of scripture, we are told that, "only the Spirit of God" could reveal His true identity.

The questions that rise in me from reading this passage are--who do people say you are and who do you say you are? Are we who people say we are and why do they say what they say?

Do they say we are someone or something that we're not because of what they see us do? That was the reason why people thought Jesus was anyone, but who He was. Or have we reached--a place where the Spirit of God--acting in our lives--has caused some to see us for who we are-Children of the Most High God?

We can say a lot of things about who we want to be, but until we realize who we are--in Him--and others can see the evidence--do we really know who we are?

The only way we can establish ourselves as His--is by our conduct towards others, in front of others, and even when others don't see us--we are still being His.

Now, who do people say you are? Are they right or wrong? Do you say who you are? Or are you yet becoming? Think about it and ask God to show you and accept what He shows you and be willing to change--if He shows you--you--as you really are!

To Whom Shall We Go?

"Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life" (John 6:68 NASB).

Sometimes when people hear truth and truth pricks their conscience, they would rather leave the person who spoke truth so they will not have to face themselves. This is the case with many of those who followed Jesus. When He spoke truth about His origins and His relationship with The Father, they could not handle it. They could not comprehend what He was said about a "spiritual" truth and misunderstood what He said based on their "literal" or "concrete" knowledge. “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life" (6:63 NASB).

I have noticed that when I write truth, many who would follow cease to do so. I can only imagine that the truths that I write, prick their consciences and they would rather live under the assumptions of lies than deal with truth. What truth? The truth about living right before God. The truth about not re-defining or refuting what God has said. The truth about understanding the all of the Bible and not selectively determining that only certain passages of the Bible matter. I could go, but enough has been said for now.

I can only imagine how Jesus must have felt, but then He said He knew from the beginning who would follow and who would betray Him. I have often wondered why some choose to follow me; especially since my stance about God's Word has not been cloaked with innuendo and falsehood, but clearly revealed. I clearly understand what Peter meant when He said, "but where can we go and retain eternal life" (my paraphrase). The answer is quite simply--we can not have eternal life apart from a right relationship with Jesus Christ.

If we are afraid of hearing truth or seeing truth--it can only mean that we are not living according to God's truth--but man's. People get angry and incensed when truth strikes a nerve and they are forced to deal with their lies or behavior they know is not condoned by God. Sin--when exposed--tends to ignite hatred in those who are committing the sin and they attempt to make everyone else the villain, not willing to confess or admit their wrongdoing.

It really does not matter whether they confess their sin or admit it to others--God knows and it is He who determines their final outcome. God does not send anyone to hell--hell, like behavior, is a choice we make when we choose to disobey or deceive others about God's Word.

I choose to follow Truth and I would hope that those who follow me or friend me are on the same page of Truth as I am. But if people decide to "unfollow" me, I'll continue to pray that Truth will prick their consciences so badly that they'll have no other place to go, than to follow Jesus!

Forgive--And Be Forgiven!

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you" (Matthew 6:14 NKJV).

Right after Jesus taught His disciples "how" to pray (not what to pray), He reminded them of the things they should "do" in order to please God. The very first thing He said to them was, "forgive others so our Father will forgive us."

There are so many people walking around with unforgiveness in their hearts that it changes their attitudes and even their facial expressions.  We have all seen these people. They are envious and jealous. They seldom smile because they think frowning and appearing to be mad makes them holier than others. They are far more likely to criticize others than to pray for them. They always "see" the shortcomings of others, but never acknowledge their own. They think because of where they live or whose religion they bought into makes them superior to other people. And then they think--they are pleasing God and the rest of us are--"simple Christians."

When the "joy of the Lord" rises up in us, we should be able to smile and laugh as well as pray and forgive others for their shortcomings and be thankful that God does not hold our shortcomings against us.

When the "joy of the Lord" rises up in us, we should be able to speak a Word of Life, enjoining others to please God and to draw them into a knowledge of Christ with loving-kindness.

But then again--The Word tells us that God will use the foolish things to confound the wise (those that are wise in their own sight). We should be careful about the things we say with regards to others so that we will not stand in the position of being judged--more harshly--by God than the judgment we use against others.

We should make every effort to seek God first--in all things--before we open our mouths or allow our fingers to hit the keyboard of a computer (or typewriter) so that what we say or write, brings glory and honor to Him through us. We will never win people to Christ with an unforgiving heart, a harsh tongue, or unrelenting fingers that constantly accuse rather than praise or encourage.

Father, in the name of Jesus, help us to be more like You every day. Help us to open our spiritual ears and hear what You say. Guard our tongues and allow us to only speak what You would have us to say. Tangle our fingers until we are only to type what You would have us to type--with love in every letter--drawing others closer to You and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Change our attitudes so our hearts sing with praises and our faces shine with the acknowledgement that we know who You are and there is always a smile for others. These things we thank You for in Jesus' name, Amen!

We are Forgiven when we forgive! Hallelujah!