Bible League: Living His Word Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.Peace is a gift from Jesus to His disciples. He said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27). If we don't have peace about something, then we are not walking in the peace we have been given. In such circumstances where we are not peaceful, the Apostle Paul said we should make our requests known to God and then "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). In our verse for today we are told that peace is the standard operating emotion for members of the body of Christ. We have been called to peace. That is, Jesus called the members of His body to walk in peace with one another. If there is no peace in the body, then we are not fulfilling Christ's call and we are not walking in the peace we have been given. Again, in such circumstances we should follow Paul's injunction and make our requests known to God so that peace can be restored to the body. Since the members of the body are called to peace, we should let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. Peace, in other words, should determine what we say and do as members of the body of Christ. If we don't have peace about something we plan on saying or doing, then we should not say it or do it. Peace, then, will have functioned as the ruler over our hearts. If we don't have peace about something before or while we are doing it, then we should not expect to have peace after we have done it. Whether or not we have peace about something is a good indication of whether or not that something is in the will of God for the body of Christ. Since God is a God of peace (I Corinthians 14:33), and since Christ has given us His peace, we should expect to be at peace about the leading and guidance they give us. Even if what they lead us into is difficult, we should expect to be at peace about it. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Chronicles 17, 18, 19 1 Chronicles 17 -- God's Promise and David's Prayer in Response NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Chronicles 18 -- David Strengthens His Kingdom NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Chronicles 19 -- The Battle against Ammon and Aram NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 10:1-21 John 10 -- Parable of the Good Shepherd; Belief and Unbelief of the Jews NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion This vision is for a future time.It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. Insight Evil and injustice seem to have the upper hand in the world. Like Habakkuk, Christians often feel angry and discouraged as they see what goes on. Habakkuk complained vigorously to God about the situation. God's answer to Habakkuk is the same answer he would give us: “Be patient! I will work out my plans in my perfect timing.” Challenge It isn't easy to be patient, but it helps to remember that God hates sin even more than we do. Punishment of sin will certainly come. As God told Habakkuk, “Wait patiently.” To trust God fully means to trust him even when we don't understand why events occur as they do. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.Care, even though exercised upon legitimate objects, if carried to excess, has in it the nature of sin. The precept to avoid anxious care is earnestly inculcated by our Saviour, again and again; it is reiterated by the apostles; and it is one which cannot be neglected without involving transgression: for the very essence of anxious care is the imagining that we are wiser than God, and the thrusting ourselves into his place to do for him that which he has undertaken to do for us. We attempt to think of that which we fancy he will forget; we labor to take upon ourselves our weary burden, as if he were unable or unwilling to take it for us. Now this disobedience to his plain precept, this unbelief in his Word, this presumption in intruding upon his province, is all sinful. Yet more than this, anxious care often leads to acts of sin. He who cannot calmly leave his affairs in God's hand, but will carry his own burden, is very likely to be tempted to use wrong means to help himself. This sin leads to a forsaking of God as our counsellor, and resorting instead to human wisdom. This is going to the "broken cistern" instead of to the "fountain;" a sin which was laid against Israel of old. Anxiety makes us doubt God's lovingkindness, and thus our love to him grows cold; we feel mistrust, and thus grieve the Spirit of God, so that our prayers become hindered, our consistent example marred, and our life one of self-seeking. Thus want of confidence in God leads us to wander far from him; but if through simple faith in his promise, we cast each burden as it comes upon him, and are "careful for nothing" because he undertakes to care for us, it will keep us close to him, and strengthen us against much temptation. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." Daily Light on the Daily Path Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. John 10:14,27, 28 "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, • "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; • and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. Psalm 23:1-3 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. • He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. • He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Isaiah 53:6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. Ezekiel 34:16 "I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgment. 1 Peter 2:25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. 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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