Clamor Or Calm??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #383

 

I must be honest, I am weary of all the clamor going on around us; who we hate, who we don’t hate, who’s right, who’s wrong, what are we supposed to be pursuing?  I would simply like to share a few things that we find in God’s Word, that I pray will help us bring calm to our lives, our hearts and the effect that we have on others.  Jesus didn’t need politics, and we need Jesus instead of anything else!

“These things have I spoken unto you,

being yet present with you.

26 But the Comforter,

which is the Holy Ghost,

whom the Father will send in my name,

he shall teach you all things,

and bring all things to your remembrance,

whatsoever I have said unto you.

27 Peace I leave with you,

my peace I give unto you:

not as the world giveth,

give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid.”  John 14:25-27

Jesus has promised us HIS peace, via the Holy Spirit—The Spirit of God/Jesus which He promised would bring “all things to your remembrance”!  Notice (as I often teach in my classes) that Jesus said The Spirit would bring things to our “Re’membrance”; and if you go back in mind to your childhood grammar classes, hopefully you’ll remember that the small prefix “re” means to ‘do over’—meaning that we must, I repeat must, “member” it first.  We must put The Word in us and then the Holy Spirit will help us to remember things at the appropriate time. While I won’t put it here, if you’ll go back and read Matthew chapter 4 where Jesus encounters the tempter, Satan, He, Jesus, faced and overcame each temptation with scripture telling the enemy, “It Is Written”. Even when Satan used scripture, Jesus brought him back to the actual context of God’s Word!  That is such a good principle and practice for us to apply to our lives today!

I can’t tell you the peace that I have experienced in life by knowing God’s Word—in its context!  It is such a joy and delight to know Jesus through His Word, and to use Jesus’ own words, it is imperative; for we will either be serving ourselves, the enemy of our souls, or The Lord Jesus Christ!  Jesus said it much better than I can.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,

where moth and rust

doth corrupt,

and where thieves

break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust

doth corrupt,

and where thieves

do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also.

22 The light of the body is the eye:

if therefore thine eye be single,

thy whole body shall be full of light.

23 But if thine eye be evil,

thy whole body shall be full of darkness.

If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness,

how great is that darkness!

24 No man

can serve two masters:

for either he will hate the one,

and love the other;

or else he will hold to the one,

and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  Matthew 6:19-24

We can choose to follow The Master who gives peace, grace, love and wisdom; or we can let the clamor of the world keep us in an upheaval, not knowing which way to turn or whom to believe.  When we know Jesus and what He has said in His Word, we will find an amazing peace that “passeth all understanding” (See Philippians 4:7.)

Let me just say, that scripture isn’t calling us to be negligent of our responsibilities, but He is calling us to have right priorities and be pursuing His kingdom priorities as we faithfully serve God and provide for our own families as He directs.  A couple of passages that direct us in putting God first will never direct us to neglect the physical needs of our family, but we will seek to do it God’s way!

“But when ye pray,

use not vain repetitions,

as the heathen do:

for they think that they shall be heard

for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them:

for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of,

before ye ask him.

9 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father

which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread…”  Matthew 6:7-11a

Paul had somewhat to say about this also!

“…Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink;

but righteousness,

and peace,

and joy in the Holy Ghost.

18 For he that in these things serveth Christ

is acceptable to God,

and approved of men.”  Romans 14:16b-18

I know I wrestle with these things on occasion, and I just plain forget to keep my eyes on the prize—Jesus!  It is so easy to be distracted with all the clamor around us; with all the things seemingly demanding our time, our focus, and attention—things of the world and not of our Lord Jesus!  It’s one of the reasons we are to keep our eyes “fixed on Jesus”!  Isaiah reminded me of God’s faithful provision not long ago, may we ever remember that our God never fails, and HE has promised to never abandon us!  I encourage you to read the context of this passage from Isaiah.

“And the key of the house of David

will I lay upon his shoulder;

so he shall open,

and none shall shut;

and he shall shut,

and none shall open.

23 And I will fasten him

as a nail in a sure place;

and he shall be for a glorious throne

to his father’s house.”  Isaiah 22:22-23

It’s much like the assurance that God gives to us through the author of the book of Hebrews, knowing that even though God may discipline His own, He will never ever abandon us.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness;

and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”  Hebrews 13:5-6

Even as the author tells us that we have a great one to run to in our time of need—He never sleeps nor slumbers!

“For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:15-16

So, as I bring this post to a close, I want us to consider the call that Peter gives to us to know how to walk right before God in this calm assurance; in the power of Jesus to not be overcome of the crazy clamor all around us, but to be the steadfast servants of our King Jesus—living hope, peace and joy that will lead others to the cross of Him who is The way—The truth—The life!  The only way to God, to heaven and to receive eternal life!  May others see His peace and calm in us—in contrast to the clamor of the world!  Let’s reflect Jesus today!!

“As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.

17 And if ye call on the Father,

who without respect of persons

judgeth according to every man’s work,

pass the time of your sojourning here

in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know

that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained

before the foundation of the world,

but was manifest in these last times

for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God,

that raised him up from the dead,

and gave him glory;

that your faith and hope might be in God.”                         1 Peter 1:14-21

I pray that God’s greatest blessings of peace will fall on you today!  If you need Jesus, please call on Him today— “for by grace ye are saved through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast” (See Ephesians 2:8-10!)

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice

in hope of the glory of God.”  Romans 5:1-2

Amen and Amen!!!