Sundays With Joyce

 

 

PEACE

Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you; you have only to be still.

1 Samuel 17:47 It is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves;

Psalms 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God

Luke 1:79 (Jesus will) guide our feet into the path of peace.

John 14:30 The ruler of this world...has no hold on me

Romans 12:17 Return no one evil for evil...live at peace with everyone

Ephesians 2:17 He preached peace to you who were far...and near

1 Peter 3:11 Turn from evil; do good; seek peace; pursue it

 

Hebrews 12:14 "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."

God is a holy God: Christ is a holy Saviour: the Spirit of God is a holy Spirit: heaven is a holy place: the angels are holy angels: and all God's redeemed people are a holy people. Am I a holy person? If I am not, the Scripture assures me, that I shall not (cannot) see God. Holiness is a separation of heart from sin to God. It is not mere decency of conduct; there may be external morality where there is no holiness, though there can be no holiness without morality. If you are a holy person, you not only abstain from sin, but you really hate it. You hate all sin; whatever is not consistent with the will of God, you hate and abhor.

Your abhorrence is turned against yourself on account of your remaining sinfulness. You not only discover sin in your life, but in your heart. If you are a sanctified person, you make conscience not only of your actions and words, but of your thoughts. You not only desire to appear good in the eyes of the world, but to approve yourself to God who searcheth the heart.

You seek an inward conformity to the mind and will of God. Is this the case? Remember that it is written, "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Holiness is, in short, the love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost given unto us. This love becomes the motive to all holy obedience; the Word of God then becomes the rule of the whole conduct; and the glory of God is proposed as the end of our conversation.

Now no man can enter heaven till he is made holy. Do you believe it? And is it the prayer of your heart, "Lord, sanctify me wholly, soul, body, and spirit"? (see 1 Thess. 5:23).

If it be, the Lord hath begun the good work in your heart, and He will perfect it unto the day of Jesus Christ, that you may be presented holy and unblameable before Him in love.

 

 

"I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there."

Mother Teresa

 

If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.
If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.

Lao Tzu

 

"Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal."

Martin Luther King, Jr.