A Life Worthy

Tag: peace

  • One-a-Day Friday, 8/22/14

    number 1The wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure; then peace-loving… (James 3:17). 

    Do you love peace?

    Hold on.  Before you respond with, “Of course I do!” ask yourself a few questions.  Do you ever pick an intellectual fight?  Do you ever snipe at someone—you know, taking that little shot that makes you look smart and them foolish?  Do you ever make the oh-so-slightly-gossipy comment designed to bring down someone who irks/annoys/offends you?

    If the answer to any of the above is yes…

    As you know, people sometimes bug me.  When they do, I have known myself to act in the ways I just mentioned, trying to win whatever imaginary battle I’m engaged in.  When I do that, I’m not looking to bring peace—not between them and me…not between them and God.  I’m looking to win.

    But I lose.  Every time.

    Beloved, we stand as men and women of God in a broken and fallen world.  It is our mission to seek and save, not to search and destroy.

    I’ve gotta admit, this is a tough one for me.  I get real satisfaction out of dinging someone who has hurt me.  It makes me feel strong; it makes me feel smart; it makes me feel better…

    But then, it’s not supposed to be about me…is it, Beloved?

    Walk in love today.  Walk in peace.

  • One-a-Day Thursday, 7/10/14

    number 1My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest (Exodus 33:14).

    As Israel moved into the Promised Land, God granted his assurance that he would not leave his children on their own.  He would be with them on their journey, come what may.  God knew that his people needed more than his blessing, more than his power.

    They needed him.

    As do I.

    As do you.

    What is your journey today, Beloved?  Are you heading to far-off lands of adventure, or nearby streets of tedium? Are you frightened by the uncertainty of what today might hold, or are you frustrated at the drudgery of another monotonous day of the same-old-same-old?  Either way, you can breathe deeply in the knowledge that the God who first conceived the very idea of you goes with you into this day.  Nothing is going to surprise him.  Nothing is going to confuse him.

    He’s got your back.

    And your front.

    And everything in between.

    Today, even today, you can enjoy the rest that comes from simply being in his presence.

    I hope you do.

    Go get ‘em.

  • One-a-Day Wednesday, 7/9/14

    number 1…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

    You’re not who you want to be.

    I get that—neither am I.

    That “not being who you want to be” business, yeah, that causes stress.

    I get that, too.

    And frankly, if it were up to you to become the strong, caring, mature child of God that you want to be, I’d tell you to pack it in.  It ain’t gonna happen, my friend.

    But it’s not up to you.

    Hear that, Beloved.  It is not up to you.

    You are in the hands and heart of your creator, and he is an artist without compare.

    I have heard that great sculptors can look at a block of stone or wood or clay and see the finished work before they even begin.  It’s like that with God.  He looks at you—lumpy blob of clay that you are—and he sees a work of such beauty, such grace, such power that it will bring tears to the eyes.  All he needs is a little time to bring the beauty from the blob.  He will not forget you.  He will not get bored with you and wander off to watch TV or make nachos.  He will stick with you until his vision is realized, until you are complete.

    So don’t stress because you’re not “there” yet.  You don’t even know where “there” is.  Just let God keep doing what he’s doing.

    Because what he’s doing is fantastic.

  • One-a-Day Wednesday, 7/2/14

    number 1Take my yoke upon on you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:29-30).

    So here’s what I think…

    As you well know, a yoke is a contraption that allows an ox, or some other suitable creature, to pull a plow.  Oxen are yoked together in teams of two, with one ox leading, and the other ox more or less along for the ride.  This second, or “off” ox, is constrained by the yoke to follow the lead ox and do what he does.

    Jesus is inviting you to be his off ox.

    Follow his lead.  Do what he does.  Be conformed to his image.  That’s the offer.  And what is the result of this?

    You will find rest for your soul.

    Now Jesus could be talking about that rest as a reward for faithfully serving him, but I think it’s more than that.  I think rest is a natural byproduct of following Jesus.  Because following Jesus means walking in obedience to the Father, and obedience to the Father is the key to a peaceful heart.  Think about it—how could Jesus say that his yoke was easy, his burden light?  He was going to the cross to bear the sin of all mankind, and he knew it.

    He could call it easy and light because it was the Father’s will, and doing the Father’s will put him in harmony with—at peace with—the Father.  He was doing what he was sent to do.  He was fulfilling his destiny.

    When we obey God, when we allow him to direct our steps, we know peace, even when the path itself seems impossibly difficult.  When we do what we were designed to do for the One who designed us, our souls will know rest.

    Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus…

    What is he calling you to this day, Beloved?  Where are you most likely to fight against the yoke?  Could that—fighting against his lead—could that be the source of your stress today?  Could submission bring rest to your soul?

    Who am I to say?  What do I know?  But, maybe…

    Oxen are notoriously dull-witted creatures, but they manage to get it right.

    I think there’s hope for us, Beloved.

  • One-a-Day Monday 6/30/14

    number 1

    Lately I’ve noticed a lot of anxiety in the hearts around me.  Therefore, this week’s One-a-Days have a theme: Rest in Him.

    The Lord your God is with you; he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.  (Zephaniah 3:17).

    There’s a whole lot of great theology packed into this verse.  Walk through it with me, would you?

    The Lord your God is with you The God of the Universe, he who created everything—by which I mean everything—with his spoken word, is on your side.  He wants you to succeed; he wants you to prosper.

    He is mighty to save  This one who is on your side is the Lord of the Universe.  He has the power to protect you, to care for you.  Look, I love you, my friend, but what can I do?  God, on the other hand—when he says he’ll protect you, you know you’re protected.

    He will take great delight in you  This same Lord of the Universe we’re talking about?  He doesn’t just love you.  He likes you.  He delights in you.  You, Beloved.  You make his heart sing.

    He will quiet you with his love  God’s love has the power to calm that stressed out heart of yours.  I remember when my kids were little. Sometimes they would be upset, and I could scoop them up into my arms, hold them close, and feel their anxiety melt away.  God wants to do that with you, Beloved.

    He will rejoice over you with singing   You.  Your Father is filled with joy over you.

    Notice, nothing is said about how much you deserve all this—or don’t—so get the self-incrimination out of the way.  Just read the words—two or three or ten times—and let them sink deep.  Let him quiet you with his love this morning.

    Happy Monday, Beloved.

  • One-a-Day Monday 6/9/14

    number 1Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:2).

    I know we have talked about this before, but I think it bears repeating.  The phrase grace and peace appears in nearly every New Testament letter.  Paul used it.  John used it.  Here we see Peter using the phrase.  It is always used as a blessing to believers.  It is always used at the beginning of the letter, kind of a launching pad.  It is always used in the same order.

    Grace

    and

    Peace.

    Which reminds us that grace must come first.  Without grace—the completely undeserved blessing we have received from God—how can we ever know peace?  His grace sent his Son to the cross to purchase our peace with his blood.

    Peter goes another step, pointing out that this grace and peace come through “The knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”  God’s grace is not an anonymous gift left on our doorstep.  Jesus stands and holds it out to you; you must come and take it.  You must learn what it cost, and why.

    To appreciate the gift, you must know the giver.

    Spend time with him today, Beloved.  Take hold of the grace and peace he offers you.

    The gift cost him more than you can ever fully know.

    And you are worth it.

  • One-a-Day Monday 10/7/13

    number 1note: This is the first in a series of daily posts designed to encourage you to live the life to which you have been called.  For more information on this new direction, click here.

    Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:2).

    Have you ever considered the relationship between the words grace and peace? The second truly depends upon the first.  It is only through God’s grace that we can have peace.

    Think about it—apart from God’s grace, why should you have peace?  You are a hopeless, pathetic lump, destined for destruction—me too, for that matter. (Feeling encouraged yet?)

    Ahh, but you are not apart from God’s grace.  If you belong to Him, you have his grace, sufficient to all your needs.  Your pathetic lumpiness has been forgiven, atoned for.  You, my friend, are complete, you are whole, you are loved.  You are His.

    Embrace his grace, beloved of the Father.  Know his peace today.