July 18
1 Chron 26:12-27:34 | PS 14:1-7 | Prov 19:17 | Rom 4:13-5:5
Don't we all desire peace in our lives? Peace is not the absence of conflict. True peace transcends understanding, not making sense to the outside world, it stems from faith, and is seen as a calm often in the midst of a storm. Too many seek counterfeit peace, believing if they just change their circumstances they will experience peace, only to find out they were either lied to or they lied to themselves. Politicians promise peace through government programs, and many other external alterations, but even the most casual view of politics makes one realize that this never brings lasting peace. Many have jumped on various cultural bandwagons for peace, such as changing one's gender, only to find out that despite this there is no peace. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. We are told in Matthew 5:9, "blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God". We cannot be peacemakers unless we introduce others to the Prince of Peace. Our peace depends on Jesus' finished work on the cross. It is independent of our circumstances and our actions, be they good or bad, for it depends on our faith in Him, not our reliance on ourselves and our ability to navigate this world.
We read in Romans 4:23-25, "Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification." Abraham, the father of faith for all nations, was declared righteous, not because of anything that he did, but because he chose to believe in God, in spite of circumstance which otherwise seemed impossible. We read further in 5:1-2, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." We are declared righteous, not guilty, by faith, on the basis of what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. This is the basis of our peace.
The world is watching. Do we look like the rest of the world, or do we exude peace in the midst of our trials and tribulations? Our strength and our peace must come from the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. We deserve judgment, but in mercy we do not receive this. We deserve nothing good, in that we were and are sinners, but in His grace, He continues to lavish us with things out of His love for His children. Abide in Him. Surround yourselves with Him. Make Jesus the true center of your lives and the Prince of Peace will give you that which the rest of the world desire, but can't seem to find.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: