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 Acts 14:22 Continue in the faith.Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is not a beginning only in the ways of God, but also a continuance in the same as long as life lasts. It is with a Christian as it was with the great Napoleon: he said, "Conquest has made me what I am, and conquest must maintain me." So, under God, dear brother in the Lord, conquest has made you what you are, and conquest must sustain you. Your motto must be, "Excelsior." He only is a true conqueror, and shall be crowned at the last, who continueth till war's trumpet is blown no more. Perseverance is, therefore, the target of all our spiritual enemies. The world does not object to your being a Christian for a time, if she can but tempt you to cease your pilgrimage, and settle down to buy and sell with her in Vanity Fair. The flesh will seek to ensnare you, and to prevent your pressing on to glory. "It is weary work being a pilgrim; come, give it up. Am I always to be mortified? Am I never to be indulged? Give me at least a furlough from this constant warfare." Satan will make many a fierce attack on your perseverance; it will be the mark for all his arrows. He will strive to hinder you in service: he will insinuate that you are doing no good; and that you want rest. He will endeavour to make you weary of suffering, he will whisper, "Curse God, and die." Or he will attack your steadfastness: "What is the good of being so zealous? Be quiet like the rest; sleep as do others, and let your lamp go out as the other virgins do." Or he will assail your doctrinal sentiments: "Why do you hold to these denominational creeds? Sensible men are getting more liberal; they are removing the old landmarks: fall in with the times." Wear your shield, Christian, therefore, close upon your armour, and cry mightily unto God, that by his Spirit you may endure to the end. Daily Light on the Daily Path Revelation 21:23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.Acts 26:13,15 at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. • "And I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Matthew 17:1,2 Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. • And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. Isaiah 60:19,20 "No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory. • "Your sun will no longer set, Nor will your moon wane; For you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, And the days of your mourning will be over. 1 Peter 5:10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 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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