A QUIET HEART. “For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel . . . in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. . . .” Isa.30.15 Peace is one of the sweetest gifts God gives to His children. The day before He died Jesus told His disciples that He was going to die and leave them a legacy. A major part of the legacy was that He was going to send the Holy Spirit (which He did) to guide and guard and teach them and bring to their remembrance all the things that Jesus had taught them. But He mentioned something else as a legacy: I will leave you my peace, He said, : “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. . . . Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.“ John 14:27 Gods peace gives us a stability and calmness to go through our trials and face the realities of life. They are still very painful, but His peace keeps our hearts and minds. The peace Jesus gives us is His peace, the peace that enabled Him to endure the terrible agony of the cross and its temporary separation from the Father. The peace of Christ enables believers to remain calm even in the mostly wildly fearful turmoil. You remember when Jesus and the disciples were caught in the storm at sea and the disciples were terrified. What was Jesus doing? He was “asleep on a pillow” in the back of the boat! “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And Jesus was asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:35-37 It was a wonderful miracle that Jesus calmed the storm, but wasn’t it also very wonderful that Jesus was able to sleep and have peace in the midst of the storm! Jesus’ peace enables you to face great difficulties with a calmness in your heart that God gives. “The peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:7 Tranquility of the soul–a settled peace that is not dependent upon outward circumstances, but inner strength from God. There is peace because we know that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” Psalm 46:1-3 Jesus said, “I give to you” this peace. So we see God’s grace again. All that we have comes from Him. His legacy is not riches or worldly honor but peace–peace of heart, peace of conscience, peace because we have been pardoned and our sins forgiven, a living Savior, a home in heaven. “If God be for us, who can be against us?! He who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Rom. 8:31-32 “Not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” The world can’t give this peace because it doesn’t have it! it’s not in their possession. “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:21 The world gives you but empty words, a mere powerless wish when it says Peace or Shalom but Christ’s gift of peace is real. Jesus said “Let not.” Do not “allow” or permit your heart to be troubled. Do not allow it to be afraid. Fear and worry may come, but you can banish them with this promise from Jesus. And remember Psalm 56:3 “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” Instead of being troubled or afraid, you can rejoice in the Lords Presence. Jesus has given us a promise for the future where no foreboding fear of the unknown and dark tomorrow threatens us. Our destiny in the future is secured eternally. We have “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” 1 Peter 1.4 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Jesus gives you a choice: you can either stay troubled and afraid or you can refuse to be troubled and afraid. What will you let your mind dwell on? Your problems–or worries, most of which will never materialize anyway. Fear and worry do nothing constructive. They don’t accomplish anything—except to take away your joy! Or will you focus your mind on Jesus and His promises and His command, “Fear not”–no matter how wild the storm or how serious the potential problem. Set your mind and affection on things above–and on Jesus Himself; “fixing your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” A mind that wavers and changes with every new problem or shifting wind of teaching has no firm foundation upon which to rest. When we rest in the Lord and stay our minds on Him, God gives us that “perfect peace” as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isa.26.3 The phrase translated here as “perfect peace” in the Hebrew is actually, “Shalom! shalom!” The repeated word adds emphasis and intensifies the promise. In other words, you live with—and here’s the operative word--CONFIDENCE IN GOD–confident trust that He who promised will also perform what He promises. He can be counted on to bring you through the worst trials and will be with you in the Valley of the Shadow. “I will fear no evil for though art with me.” This is a Rembrandt painting of the storm on the Sea of Galilee. The other two are Tasha Tudors art work. Both depict the theme of the devotional.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 14:01:47 +0000
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