May 16
1 Sam 18:5-19:24 | PS 112:1-10 | Prov 15:12-14 | John 8:31-59
Is there anyone who doesn't desire peace and truth in their lives? But these are often lacking whenever we fasten ourselves to something else, anything else. One night my wife and I were enjoying a dinner together. A mother and daughter were sitting at the table next to us and we struck up a conversation. We shared many views politically. Like many, this is where her hope rested. We then explained that though we desire certain political solutions, our hope rests in Jesus Christ, and Him alone. The daughter, then joined us, as she too, was a Christian who emphatically loved the Lord. The mother stated. as the conversation continued that this was sent to her by God. My wife shared how she and her mother went through Scripture together from beginning to end for five straight years, and the transformation that took place with her mother was remarkable. The reality is the shared political views were good, the conversation about Jesus Christ, our Prince of Peace, was better.
Jesus said in John 8:31-32, "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Again in 8:36, He said, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." Jesus, alone, offers truth and peace. Everyone and everything else will fall short. Notice that Jesus, during this conversation was confronting a hostile audience. He didn't measure His words, or alter them in any way in order to escape conflict or for a desired result. Truth is truth, everything else is a lie. To accept truth requires humility. You can't see truth if you have placed yourself on a pedestal. We see this played out in the life of David. He has already proven himself in battle, not only slaying the giant, Goliath, but having continued success with his military conquests. He has the affection of the crowds. But we read in 1 Samuel 18:23, when told of marrying King Saul's daughter, "So Saul’s servants spoke those words in the hearing of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king’s son-in-law, seeing I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?” Freed of self, God could fill and use David.
What is it that consumes you? If it is not Jesus Christ, then you are consumed with lesser things, and His truth and His peace will escape you. Even good things should not consume us, things such as family, work, politics, etc. There is nothing wrong with these, but there is something so much better. We need this, and others need this as well. There is no peace without the Prince of Peace. We can not be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9), unless we invite others into a relationship with the embodiment of peace, Jesus Christ.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: