Just a Thought: Love, Joy, and Peace: these are the things most desired by people when asked what they wanted most out of life. Well I have good news – these are the things every Christian already posses in Christ, all they have to do is receive them by faith and walk in them. Paul reminds us “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Rom 5:1). Positional peace is ours! Where we once at war with, enemies and objects of God’s wrath because of our sin and disobedience; we now have peace with God. Because God in His grace has through Jesus has justified us (declared us righteous) we stand before God not as filthy sinners but rather as cleansed, forgiven saints. But we don’t just have positional peace with God, we have a practical peace in life! Through peace with God, we gain the peace of God! A peace that even in times of trials and tribulation (which we will have plenty of in this life) we can experience real genuine joy! “…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us (Rom 5:3-5) Paul is not saying every moment in life is a giddy moment – what he is saying is that the peace we have with God and from God brings joy even in tough times because we have the faith that assures us, God has us and our best interest at heart. It’s the old no pain, no gain idea. We know when God allows things to come our way ultimately, He is doing for our growth and good. It may not feel good at the time, but we know it is an act of love. His love the love we all so desperately search for is found in our personal relationship with our heavenly Father who “…when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:6-8). With this act of love, God provided for us His love, joy and peace through a personal right relationship with Himself and there is no greater love, joy or peace than that which comes from God and in Christ is ours to receive!
Posted on: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:32:15 +0000
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