Bible League: Living His Word You will keep in perfect peaceall who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! We live in a sinful, broken world that is full of evil. It's easy to come undone. It's easy to lose control and break down. The temptations to get nervous and anxious, to get fearful and fainthearted, to get angry and exasperated are plenteous. In many of the situations of life that arise, no one will blame you for coming apart at the seams. After all, we've all been there; we've all been pushed to the limit. The promise of our verse for today, however, is of a way of being in this broken world of ours that does not seem to belong to this world. It's a way of being that comes from a better place; that comes from heaven above. The promise is that God will keep us in perfect peace. The promise, then, is not just for ordinary peace, but for "perfect peace." The peace that the Apostle Paul said exceeds anything that we can understand (Philippians 4:7). Although peace is a gift that belongs to all of God's people (John 14:27), it requires something on our part in order to fully manifest in our lives. It requires that we trust in God. You can't have perfect peace without a strong trust in God. The specifics of the situation will get to us if there is no faith that God is in control. If we are to have a strong trust in God, then we can't allow the situation to run away with us. At some point we must turn from it and fix our thoughts on God. We must turn from the tumult and turmoil and focus our attention on Him. We must boldly come before the throne of our gracious God that we may receive help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). To be kept in perfect peace does not mean that we are unmoved by the situation, like a Stoic philosopher who refuses to allow emotion of any kind to sweep over him. It means, rather, that no matter what happens there is a peace to the person of faith that can't be explained in human terms. Whatever you may be facing today, turn from it for a moment and fix your thoughts on God, trust in Him, and let His perfect peace rise up in your souls. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Samuel 15, 16 2 Samuel 15 -- Absalom's Conspiracy; David Flees Jerusalem NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Samuel 16 -- David and Ziba; Shimei Curses David; Absalom Enters Jerusalem NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 20:27-47 Luke 20 -- Jesus' Authority; Parable of the Tenants; Give to Caesar; Marriage at the Resurrection NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Fearing people is a dangerous trap,but trusting the LORD means safety. Insight Fear of people can hamper everything you try to do. In extreme forms, it can make you afraid to leave your home. By contrast, fear of God—respect, reverence, and trust—is liberating. Challenge Why fear people who can do no eternal harm? Instead, fear God who can turn the harm intended by others into good for those who trust him. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Corinthians 11:24 This do in remembrance of me.It seems then, that Christians may forget Christ! There could be no need for this loving exhortation, if there were not a fearful supposition that our memories might prove treacherous. Nor is this a bare supposition: it is, alas! too well confirmed in our experience, not as a possibility, but as a lamentable fact. It appears almost impossible that those who have been redeemed by the blood of the dying Lamb, and loved with an everlasting love by the eternal Son of God, should forget that gracious Saviour; but, if startling to the ear, it is, alas! too apparent to the eye to allow us to deny the crime. Forget him who never forgot us! Forget him who poured his blood forth for our sins! Forget him who loved us even to the death! Can it be possible? Yes, it is not only possible, but conscience confesses that it is too sadly a fault with all of us, that we suffer him to be as a wayfaring man tarrying but for a night. He whom we should make the abiding tenant of our memories is but a visitor therein. The cross where one would think that memory would linger, and unmindfulness would be an unknown intruder, is desecrated by the feet of forgetfulness. Does not your conscience say that this is true? Do you not find yourselves forgetful of Jesus? Some creature steals away your heart, and you are unmindful of him upon whom your affection ought to be set. Some earthly business engrosses your attention when you should fix your eye steadily upon the cross. It is the incessant turmoil of the world, the constant attraction of earthly things which takes away the soul from Christ. While memory too well preserves a poisonous weed, it suffereth the rose of Sharon to wither. Let us charge ourselves to bind a heavenly forget-me-not about our hearts for Jesus our Beloved, and, whatever else we let slip, let us hold fast to him. Daily Light on the Daily Path Deuteronomy 33:27 "The eternal God is a dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms; And He drove out the enemy from before you, And said, 'Destroy!'Matthew 14:30,31 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" • Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Psalm 37:23,24 The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. • When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. Deuteronomy 33:12 Of Benjamin he said, "May the beloved of the LORD dwell in security by Him, Who shields him all the day, And he dwells between His shoulders." 1 Peter 5:7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Zechariah 2:8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, "After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. John 10:28,29 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. • "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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