Bring Peace

 

Bring Peace

Romans 16: ¹² My greetings to Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who work in the Lord's service, and to my dear friend Persis, who has done so much work for the Lord. ¹³ I send greetings to Rufus, that outstanding worker in the Lord's service, and to his mother, who has always treated me like a son. ¹⁴ My greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and all the other Christians with them. ¹⁵ Greetings to Philologus and Julia, to Nereus and his sister, to Olympas and to all of God's people who are with them.

¹⁶ Greet one another with the kiss of peace. All the churches of Christ send you their greetings.

 

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Getting cut off in traffic spiked my rage, but I could only sit like everyone else. When I arrived at my destination, I was met with bad news after bad news. Complaints poured in all day. I got back in the car and started my journey. I was cut off in traffic again. “Wasn’t that the same car from this morning!” I wondered.

 

• Some days it seemed like no one had good news.
• Some days it seemed like complaints were in high demand.
• Some days it seemed like people were trying to purposefully get on “my” nerves.

 

Paul completes his greetings to many people with one statement “Greet one another with the kiss of peace.” He knew that life would be hard because he had experienced beatings, a shipwreck and multiple murder attempts on his life.

 

• GOD wants me to bring peace to people.
• GOD wants me to lead people HIM so HE can lead them to still waters.
• GOD wants me to be at peace so I can bring peace.

 

Having peace is something that the world cannot seem to provide. I mean, if I would just have blank, then I would be happy. I found this to never be true. I would get “blank” and be temporarily happy, but life would quickly set in.

 

GOD wants me off the highs and lows of panic to peace. HE wants me to seek HIM daily as my source of peace and allow HIM to lead others to the place HE has provided for them and me. Instead of a complaint or more bad news, GOD wants HIS people to have peace. I am grateful GOD gives an abundance of peace.

 

• Do you always have something negative to say?
• Are you seeking to stir people up so you can look like a hero?
• Will you be at peace with GOD so you can bring peace to others who need it today?

Waiting Period

Isaiah 8: ¹⁶ Bind up this testimony of warning
    and seal up God’s instruction among my disciples.
¹⁷ I will wait for the Lord,
    who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob.
I will put my trust in him.

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“Will this person ever stop talking” is what I thought to myself as I wanted the meeting to be over with. “Will this person just move over” I thought to myself as they were driving one mile under the speed limit. “Why won’t they just promote me right now” I thought to myself as I rushed to be at the top.

• Sometimes I am impatient.
• Sometimes I want it right now.
• Sometimes I do not want to wait.

Impatience is something I definitely embrace. It is a heralded quality in business and celebrated throughout the world. The success in business can however be a detriment. It is hard to turn on and off patience as money and time seem to be needed more and more. What am I to do?

• GOD says to me “Seal up MY instructions in people” which takes time.
• GOD says to me “Wait on the LORD for your deliverance” so sometimes I have to remain where I am for a little while longer.
• GOD says to me “Put your trust in the LORD” which means I shouldn’t always jump into HIS plans trying to fix the situation.

Patience means I can sit back and “trust” GOD. I can know that HIS plan will unfold just as HE says. HE is the one who delivers me in HIS way and in HIS time. I should not fret over the current circumstance because HIS plan is too marvelous for me.

• Are you stuck in a situation for a long time?
• Are you losing your patience?
• Can you trust that GOD wants you to grow and HE needs you to place your trust in HIM?

Pondering Takes Time

Psalm 48: ⁹ Within your temple, O God,
    we meditate on your unfailing love.
¹⁰ Like your name, O God,
    your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;
    your right hand is filled with righteousness.

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“I wonder if I did my report?” was the thought that crossed my mind. The answer came to me in a flash. “No!” I started thinking of who I could call to help me with the project. I then thought about some important points that would make the report engaging. Finally I thought of some great numbers that would really knock the socks off of senior management.

When I finished my flood of thoughts I realized I was in church and had not really heard a word that was said. “Oh well, I’ll catch it next week.”

• Sometimes I get distracted with life.
• Sometimes I put projects in the way of life.
• Sometimes I see nothing else but the project, causing me to be blind.

Praise who? I have this on my mind and it’s hard to praise anyone when I am this distracted, I thought to myself. Then it hit me, I was getting choked by the world.

• GOD says to me “Do not worry” and I believe it is because I lose my focus of HIM.
• GOD says to me “Do not be afraid” and I believe it is because I think about this world too much.
• GOD says to me “I will be with you always” and I forget this when I am distracted.

GOD has received second billing in my life to so many worries, fears and doubts. I exhaust myself just trying to keep things moving in a path that I feel comfortable. GOD has never placed me on a path where life gets boring. HE has just the right mix of trial and reward to make me grow. HE is worthy of my time and I need to quiet down and listen to HIM daily.

• Are you distracted?
• Do you feel overwhelmed?
• Can you stop for a moment to meditate on GOD’s wonderful power?
• Will you praise GOD today for HIS unfailing love?

Fear of Failure

Psalm 16: ⁵ Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
    you make my lot secure.
⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    surely I have a delightful inheritance.
⁷ I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
⁸ I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

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As I made my next move I decided to vet my idea to a few people. One person said I should “go left” another said “go right” another said “wait” and another said “charge.” When it was all said and done I was confused and went nowhere. Shortly after, another person who overheard the idea took it and ran with it, receiving accolades. I was indecisive.

• Unknown trails are scary to me.
• Fear of failing causes me to stay put.
• Impatience causes me to have knee-jerk reactions rather than calculated moves.

One definition of fear is wanting and desiring success or peace, but not taking any steps to get there. Whether it’s under or overthinking, fear cascades through my mind, thinking the worst could happen. Fear gets larger the more responsibility I take on. BUT GOD has some good advice for me.

• GOD says to me “Fear not, for I AM with you.”
• GOD says to me “MY grace is sufficient.”
• GOD says to me “I will wipe away your tears.”

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places and I can see the delightful inheritance of GOD. HE is the only one who can bring peace in the middle of the storm. HE whispers, so I need to quiet down to hear HIM and HIM alone, especially when others around me are confused or panicked. GOD wants me to hear HIM so I will not be shaken.

• Are you shaken?
• Do you have fear?
• Can you put your fear in GOD rather than on the thing you want so badly?
• Will you seek GOD’s comfort by telling HIM, out loud, what is bothering you?
• Can you prepare yourself for GOD to say “No” or “Wait” or “Yes” in HIS time?