I not only do not understand, "the peace of God," I don't understand much of anything of the Universe and the "ways of the Lord," which, by the way, "are past finding out."
I looked out the window this morning and saw neighbors' houses, the hillside full of leafless trees, beyond to the clouds and infrequent appearance of blue sky. I then realized that "beyond the blue," there is the endless blackness of space. Then I contemplated for awhile the flow of history, the many events which seem to have no "rhyme nor reason," not seeming to fit into any "logical pattern." Also, I thought of a man in our congregation who passed away recently, one for whom our church prayed and prayed. Then I came back to our text, "....transcends ('passes')all understanding...."
The longer I live, the less I understand, can explain, can fathom. I shared that not long ago I spoke in a church gathering in another city and afterward spoke with a man who had lost his oldest child. I told him that only, "the Words of God," brought me out of a catatonic state, and keep me living. He did not react, I mean at all. It was as though I had just attempted to explain to him a principle of differential calculus.
I come back to my definition of faith: Acceptance of whatever Jesus says. Jesus tells me that His, "peace...transcends all understanding." Jesus tells me that His, "ways are past finding out," or, "beyond tracing out," or, "unfathomable." It is erroneous to say, "I wish I had more faith." It is like saying, "I wish I had more obedience." I have Jesus, of Whom the Bible says, "is our peace." The "whys" and "wherefores" He never seems to answer. An attempt to "have faith" in the realm of some sort of, "understanding," will find only a faith of our making. Besides, if I could understand faith, or peace, or grace, or mercy, they probably would not be God's.
I read this morning how our Lord Jesus defeated Satan by, "the Words of God," and so also for you and me. And, those Words tell us that, "....the peace of God," is never in, "understanding." His Words tell us that we only have, "....the peace of God...in Christ Jesus."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You do what I cannot, and mostly what I do not understand. I say with the hymn writer, "It is enough that Jesus died and that He died for me." Amen.
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* Will be Friday at the War College in Carlisle, PA, for a gathering of various Indian tribes.
* Israel: April 17-24
* Will be Friday at the War College in Carlisle, PA, for a gathering of various Indian tribes.
* Israel: April 17-24
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.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
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Posted By Antipas Prayer Force: to Antipas Prayer Force Devotionals at 4/04/2018 02:03:00 PM
