Words of Encouragement Scripture: Isaiah 32: 9-20 9. Rise up, you women who are at ease, and hear My voice; give ear to My words you complacent daughters. 10. Within a year and a few days you will be troubled, O complacent daughters; for the vintage is ended, and the fruit gathering will not come. 11. Tremble, you women who are at ease; be troubled, you complacent daughters; strip, undress and put sackcloth on your waist, 12. beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,13. for the land of my people in which thorns and briars shall come up; yea, for all the joyful houses and for the jubilant city. 14. Because the palace has been abandoned, the populated city forsaken. Hill and watchtower have become caves forever, a delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks; 15. until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field is considered as a forest. 16. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness and righteous will abide in the fertile field. 17. And the work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. 18. Then My people will live in a peaceful habitation, and in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places; 19. And it will hail when the forest comes down, and the city will be utterly laid low. 20. How blessed will you be, you who sow beside all waters, who let out freely the ox and the donkey. Look closely at verse 17. From Our Daily Homily by F.B. Meyer [Words in brackets not found in original text but added by me] Righteousness must precede peace: 1. In the government of a holy God. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews clearly affirms that Melchizedek, the type of Christ, is first King of Righteousness and then King of Peace. In Romans 3 the apostle shows how the righteousness of God has been vindicated, and will be imparted to those who believe; and then says, [Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with god through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)]. 2. In our inner life. Many seek for peace apart from righteousness. They refuse to adjust some wrong in their lives which calls aloud against them. They refuse to permit the light of Gods Spirit to ransack their past, because they are conscious that to do so will expose themselves to the inevitable need of confession and restitution; and as they will not submit to the laying of the foundations of peace, they miss the peace. So far as you know, you must be right before you can have peace. 3. In mens dealing with each other. Be sure to go to the bottom of disputes and disagreements. There is a right and wrong in every question. It is always wise to lay the foundations of justice at any cost, assured that peace will inevitably result sooner or later. Honeyed words will not abide; but just deeds are a permanent basis for a happy and lasting reconciliation. How blessed that forevermore our peace is secured! The righteous shall never need to leave their peaceful habitation, or to quit their sure dwellings. However it may hail to the downfall of the forest trees, storms shall never drive them from their quiet resting places, since they are founded upon the righteousness as well as the grace of God. So, be encouraged, my friend! P.S. Here is a mix of hymns of the Church: Missions and Evangelism: So Send I You - By Grace Made Strong. My prayer is that you take the words of these songs to heart as you seek to know Christ and make Him known to a world lost in sin and darkness. Enjoy! https://youtube/watch?v=MSNnFLVrgbc&index=1&list=RDMSNnFLVrgbc
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 12:17:35 +0000
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