"Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble." (Psalm 119:165)
The word for, "peace," here is, "Shalom." You know what that means. The meaning of the word, "stumble," includes, "stumbling block." When someone says, "Shalom," to you or me, it can only go as far as we, "love Your law." Contrary to some teachings, you cannot "wish" or impart peace. Only, "The Word of God," Jesus, and His Words can do that. As for, "nothing causes them to stumble, " the Bible is quite clear, "now unto Him Who is able to keep you from stumbling" (NASB).
Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you." This is not an ephemeral peace. Some people think that the "things of God" are somehow magically transferred, some, well, to tell you the truth, I don't know what they think. Maybe there was a time in my life when I thought erroneous thoughts about how God does things in our lives, what "living for Him" means, "work out your salvation," how He "speaks" to us, etc., but the Bible is very clear. His peace, and dare I say, "everything" comes to, "those who love Your law." Any other "peace" is just a feeling. If only Christendom would get away from some Eastern meditative approach. The reality of our creative purpose, what Genesis says of the, "sound of the Lord God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day," in our day can be indeed a mystery, so many ideas, so many books about "walking with God." The only way I can come close to that purpose, however, is in, "The Word of God," Jesus, and His Words, the only "tangible" instruction which can be fully trusted.
The longer I live, the more the Biblical word, "mystery," seems to apply to our walk in Jesus Christ. If that is indeed a mark of our sojourn here, then we need to find all we can which helps us through the mysteries of life. As Followers of Jesus Christ, we are, "stewards of the mysteries of God;" and I can only be a faithful steward if my base, my foundation, my authority and source is, "the Word of God." If anyone bases what has been entrusted to us on any other foundation, disaster is surely to come. If, however, our life theme is, "love Your law," then, "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." And let us be perfectly clear; Jesus earlier defined, "the rock," as, "these sayings of Mine."
Today, in the midst of the clamor of life, the Bible declares above the noise and confusion, "Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble." Here is promise preceded by condition. To love Jesus Christ is to love His Words, inseparably one. Find a moment in the midst of everything to avail yourself of, "Your law." Then let the world throw up every stumbling block they wish; you have, "Great peace."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I just want to thank You for Your, "Great peace." Amen.
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Please pray with me about next week. I am planning to spend 12 to 15 hours a day in "the tent."
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
