Bible League: Living His Word Grace and peace be yours.— 1 Thessalonians 1:1 ERV "Si vis pacem para bellum," the ancient Romans said. "If you want peace, prepare for war." In the Apostle Paul's days, the Pax Romana prevailed: "a state of comparative tranquillity throughout Classical antiquity and the Mediterranean world" (Source: Brittanica.com). That "Roman Peace" was based on the dominion of one power over other powers. It was a peace attained by battle and maintained through heavily armed legions. Paul starts all his letters (and concludes some of them) by wishing his readers peace. He uses the word "eirene" for peace which (in Greek mythology) was the name of a goddess. The Latin equivalent of that deity was "Pax." History shows that, the Pax Romana didn't last longer than a few centuries. The power of Pax, the goddess of peace, turned out to be very limited. Did Paul refer to the Pax Romana? I don't think so. In 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Paul even warned against any form of peace that is man-made or coming from man-made idols: "People will say, 'We have peace and we are safe.' At that time destruction will come to them quickly, like the pains of a woman giving birth." Let us take to heart Paul's warning never to expect lasting peace from human initiative. Psalms 146:3 says, "Don't depend on your leaders for help. Don't depend on people, because they cannot save you." In 1938, the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, returned from a meeting with Adolf Hitler and declared, "Peace for our time! Go home and get a nice quiet sleep." One year later, the German army invaded Poland, marking the start of World War 2. Indeed, "Don't depend on your leaders..." Yet, the Latin adage I started with does apply, in a way, to the peace Paul writes about. Even in God's plans, conflict had to precede peace. For us to obtain the peace of God, Jesus Christ had to fight His decisive battle with devil, death, and sin. Spiritual warfare in its ultimate form! Jesus fought the battle that was ours—which we never would have won—and came out victoriously. "He took the punishment we deserved, and this brought us peace" (Isaiah 53:5). Paul could only wish his readers peace, because he knew and lived by Christ's atoning work. It is not just the absence of conflict; it is the reassurance that our lives and souls are eternally safe in Christ. No matter how troubling and disturbing our sins and sorrows are, we can always have peace of mind in Christ and His forgiveness. Don't try to fight your battles on your own; but trust God, who said, "I will fight for you!" Receive that peace that's a foretaste of eternal life with Christ. May that peace be with you today! By Anton de Vreugd, BLI global staff, the Netherlands Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Samuel 7, 8, 9 2 Samuel 7 -- David Plans a Temple; David's Prayer NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Samuel 8 -- David Defeats the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Samuel 9 -- David by Ziba Sends for Mephibosheth NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 19:1-28 Luke 19 -- Zacchaeus Converted; Parable of the Ten Minas; Triumphal Entry; Driving Traders from Temple NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion So don't go to war without wise guidance;victory depends on having many advisers. Insight In any major decision we make concerning college, marriage, career, children, etc., it is not a sign of weakness to ask for advice. Instead, it is foolish not to ask for it. Challenge Find good advisers before making any big decision. They can help you expand your alternatives and evaluate your choices. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Revelation 5:6 Lo, in the midst of the throne ... stood a Lamb as it had been slain.Why should our exalted Lord appear in his wounds in glory? The wounds of Jesus are his glories, his jewels, his sacred ornaments. To the eye of the believer, Jesus is passing fair because he is "white and ruddy:" white with innocence, and ruddy with his own blood. We see him as the lily of matchless purity, and as the rose crimsoned with his own gore. Christ is lovely upon Olivet and Tabor, and by the sea, but oh! there never was such a matchless Christ as he that did hang upon the cross. There we beheld all his beauties in perfection, all his attributes developed, all his love drawn out, all his character expressed. Beloved, the wounds of Jesus are far more fair in our eyes than all the splendour and pomp of kings. The thorny crown is more than an imperial diadem. It is true that he bears not now the sceptre of reed, but there was a glory in it that never flashed from sceptre of gold. Jesus wears the appearance of a slain Lamb as his court dress in which he wooed our souls, and redeemed them by his complete atonement. Nor are these only the ornaments of Christ: they are the trophies of his love and of his victory. He has divided the spoil with the strong. He has redeemed for himself a great multitude whom no man can number, and these scars are the memorials of the fight. Ah! if Christ thus loves to retain the thought of his sufferings for his people, how precious should his wounds be to us! "Behold how every wound of his A precious balm distils, Which heals the scars that sin had made, And cures all mortal ills. "Those wounds are mouths that preach his grace; The ensigns of his love; The seals of our expected bliss In paradise above." Daily Light on the Daily Path 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.1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. Romans 3:10-12 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; • THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; • ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." 1 Peter 2:25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. Psalm 119:176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments. Psalm 23:3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. John 10:27,28 "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. Luke 15:4 "What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 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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