Bible League: Living His Word "I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don't be troubled. Don't be afraid."— John 14:27 ERV Peace. I can surely say that this is the main dream of humanity in this world, where we live in very hard and difficult times. Who thought that someday the terrible wars would take our peace, would destroy our lives? Who thought that someday Russia and the Ukraine, almost one Slavic nation would start the war and have the terrible results? Who thought that Israel and Palestine would have a destroying war? We Armenians know about war. We have experienced terrible wars and their results, and still, we have the danger of war in this area. I surely say that we Armenians need peace much more. But unfortunately, we see that in today's world it is not possible to avoid wars, because people are evil, especially the geopolitical leaders have become like tools in the hands of devil. The word "peace" has important meaning in itself. We need peace in our lives, in our families, in our societies, in our countries. But the most important is this: we need peace first in our hearts. And it is a fact that the only source of true peace is Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. As Christians, we know the truth and we realize that as long as we live on this earth, wars can be any time. Even our Lord said, "You will hear about wars that are being fought. And you will hear stories about other wars beginning. But don't be afraid. These things must happen before the end comes. Nations will fight against other nations. Kingdoms will fight against other kingdoms. There will be times when there is no food for people to eat. And there will be earthquakes in different places" (Matthew 24:6-7). Our Lord still says to us, "Don't be afraid!" But we have His great promise, that only He can provide us the true peace, which comes from the Lord. We have His encouraging promise also, "I have told you these things so that you can have peace in Me. In this world, you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world" (John 16:33). And this is a really encouraging promise. Yes, the Lord Jesus is the source of peace, and He only can give us the true and real peace. Let us be brave and trust Him only, and surely He will give His peace to our hearts. By Artur Ispiryan, Bible League International partner, Armenia Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Samuel 25, 26 1 Samuel 25 -- Samuel Dies; David Marries Abigail NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Samuel 26 -- David Spares Saul a Second Time NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 16:19-31 Luke 16 -- The Parables of the Shrewd Manager, and the Rich Man and Lazarus NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;only fools insist on quarreling. Insight A person who is truly confident of his or her strength does not need to parade it. A truly brave person does not look for chances to prove it. A resourceful woman can find a way out of a fight. A man of endurance will avoid retaliating. Foolish people find it impossible to avoid strife. Men and women of character can. Challenge What kind of person are you? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Genesis 32:12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good.When Jacob was on the other side of the brook Jabbok, and Esau was coming with armed men, he earnestly sought God's protection, and as a master reason he pleaded, "And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good." Oh, the force of that plea! He was holding God to his word--"Thou saidst." The attribute of God's faithfulness is a splendid horn of the altar to lay hold upon; but the promise, which has in it the attribute and something more, is a yet mightier holdfast--"Thou saidst, I will surely do thee good." And has he said, and shall he not do it? "Let God be true, and every man a liar." Shall not he be true? Shall he not keep his word? Shall not every word that cometh out of his lips stand fast and be fulfilled? Solomon, at the opening of the temple, used this same mighty plea. He pleaded with God to remember the word which he had spoken to his father David, and to bless that place. When a man gives a promissory note, his honor is engaged; he signs his hand, and he must discharge it when the due time comes, or else he loses credit. It shall never be said that God dishonors his bills. The credit of the Most High never was impeached, and never shall be. He is punctual to the moment: he never is before his time, but he never is behind it. Search God's word through, and compare it with the experience of God's people, and you shall find the two tally from the first to the last. Many a hoary patriarch has said with Joshua, "Not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass." If you have a divine promise, you need not plead it with an "if," you may urge it with certainty. The Lord meant to fulfil the promise, or he would not have given it. God does not give his words merely to quiet us, and to keep us hopeful for awhile with the intention of putting us off at last; but when he speaks, it is because he means to do as he has said. Daily Light on the Daily Path 2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace,Ezekiel 16:60 "Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. Romans 11:29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 8:35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Revelation 7:17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes." 1 Thessalonians 4:17,18 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. • Therefore comfort one another with these words. Micah 2:10 "Arise and go, For this is no place of rest Because of the uncleanness that brings on destruction, A painful destruction. Hebrews 13:14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. 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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