Choose Peace and Live

"We are not armed in order to rout out evil but to withstand it with joy and peace in believing."

THERE ARE THOSE who sought Him, who believed in God’s faithfulness displayed from Him. The woman with the issue of blood said, "If I but touch His clothes, I shall be whole." A father brought His son to Jesus and a mother her daughter's need. But there are those who were unable to come to Him and so He was sent. One man sat at the pool waiting on God, then God came. One man cried out for a deliverer from his torments, and Jesus traveled a great distance through a storm to find Him.

God honors trust in Him. He sees the belief of the heart. He also sees man's weakness. He knows our doubts and seeks to remove them, to turn our face toward Him and bring new vision. Suddenly, a man tormented by demons saw the way out. A man locked into a crippled daily existence believed he could stand up and walk.

Jesus went throughout Galilee healing all who came to Him. He spoke peace and not condemnation. When a woman found in the act of adultery was cast at His feet, He protected her from the hatred of men. When face-to-face with a woman who was living with a man she wasn't married to, He gave her revelation of Himself which freed her from who she'd become.

He feared not the demoniac nor the devil which bound her. He was merciful kindness to the most hated of men, dining with tax collectors and sinners although men did not approve. He spoke peace to the mind and brought peace to the heart. He was the prophesied Prince of Peace. He is forever the Prince of Peace.

He spoke the gospel of peace, given Him by the God of peace and the Spirit of peace. Peace and goodwill toward men was His message. He has promised us His peace, and He made this promise with the cross still before Him. He told His disciples to not have troubled hearts but to know He prepared the way for them to go to the place He prepared for them.

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)

And that place is filled with peace. Jesus brought God's presence to earth. He brought the good will of heaven, so that we would have peace. His salvation is peace in the heart with no more fear of sickness, poverty, and death; it gives us peace and makes us people who display peace. We are to have peace and to seek peace. Not the battle, for Jesus won the battle. But we rest in the confidence that the peace of His victory is ours. We are not armed in order to rout out evil but to withstand it with joy and peace in believing.

There is our rejoicing, that we don't have to fight at all. But simply speak the Word and we will be healed. God gives us all we need to endure to see the complete manifestation of it. And all the forgiveness we need when we stumble along the way. He cheers us on. Not shakes His head. He is encouragement. He gives blessing, and all of it in an abundance of peace. Here is our calling as the church. We sing and preach about war and warfare when the battle is over. Jesus accomplished it. We are sent out to declare His victory, to display to the lost and dying His gift of justice and the helmet of salvation which secures the present and the future forever.

Jesus came to give all of Himself. We are now called to give all of ourselves, to look like and sound like Him, the God of all comfort who chose to die so we would never have to fight but instead know how to stand, can stand firmly, and speak truth. He came to expose the lies of the devil, the enemy, and move us from self-will and arrogance to dependence upon Him. He removed the law which said only the fittest ones survived and raised up a banner with His emblem on it — a wooden cross and an empty tomb.

He who was dead is living. He carried away our griefs and sorrows so that we would never have to be without victory and the peace and rejoicing that comes with it. Stop seeking the battle. Choose Jesus. Choose peace and live.

“Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:14 BSB)

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;” (2 Corinthians 1:3)

Image by Tung Lam from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com