Jesus the Peacemaker

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Jesus the Peacemaker

In 1835,  Charlotte Elliott came  to fully accept Jesus  as her personal Savior  and wrote  “Just As I am,  Without One Plea”.       In describing the turmoil  in her heart  while facing her Lord,  she wrote:

Just as I am,  though tossed about
With many a conflict,  many a doubt,
Fightings  and fears  within,  without,
O Lamb of God,  I come,  I come.

It’s not at all unusual for many  to come to Jesus  “kicking and screaming”  as it were,  because they are not confident  Jesus will really  accept them  as they are.     They don’t exactly feel  like saint material.     But then,  who is?

In Luke 18:27,  Jesus said,  “The things that are impossible  with people  are possible  with God.”     There is hope  for each  and every one  of us,  if we look  to Jesus.     That’s the big  “IF”.     If we look  to Jesus,  there is hope.     We can have the peace  of being  a true child  of God.

The seemingly impossible peace  that God longs  to give us  in Christ  was planned  by God  from the beginning  of time.     St. Paul tells about it  in Colossians 1:19-23:

“For it was the Father’s good pleasure  for all the fullness  to dwell  in Him,  and through Him  to reconcile  all things  to Himself,  having made peace  through the blood  of His cross;  through Him,  I say,  whether things on earth  or things  in heaven.    

And although  you were formerly alienated  and hostile  in mind,  engaged in evil deeds,   yet  He has now reconciled you  in His fleshly body  through death,  in order to present you  before Him  holy and blameless  and beyond reproach  —  if indeed  you continue  in the faith  firmly established  and steadfast,  and not moved  away from the hope  of the gospel  that you have heard…”

It was the Father’s good pleasure  to reconcile all things  to Himself  through Jesus’ blood shed  on the cross.     God is fully aware  of what we were like.     But,  He doesn’t want  to hold any of that  against us.     God takes real pleasure  in rescuing us  from sin  and leading us  into a life  that is beyond reproach.

We might tend  to hang onto  our sins,  but God wants us  to let go.    God wants us  to know the joy  of living a life  that is holy,  blameless  and beyond reproach  through the blood  of Jesus.     Paul says all this is possible  if  (There’s that big “IF” again.)  we continue  in the faith.

We are not to be wishy-washy  with our faith.     We must become firmly established  and mighty steadfast.     Nothing is to move us away  from the hope  of the gospel.

Gospel?     What’s the hope  of the gospel?     It’s the historical fact  that God has kept all  of His promises  in Jesus Christ.     The Old Testament prophesied  in many ways  the coming  of a Savior,  who would cleanse us  of all our sins  and gave many details  about that Savior’s life,  suffering,  death  and resurrection.     Then  in the New Testament  we have multiple accounts  of how all those Old Testament prophesies  came true  in Jesus Christ  —  detail after detail.

That’s the good news  saying God has the power,  love,  and faithfulness  to keep His promises  over thousands of years.     So,  when God says  our sins  are totally forgiven  through faith  in Jesus alone,  it’s like “Eureka!     I’ve found the answer  to all the fightings  and fears  in my life!     God can be trusted  to really totally  forgive me.     God truly does want all  that is good  for me.     I love such a Savior   —   my Savior!     I don’t have to be rebellious  against God’s  good rule  over me.”

All the bitterness,  hatefulness,  vengefulness,  and jealousy  that robbed us  of peace  is gone forever.     Now we have the peace  of “I don’t have to live  like that  any more”.

Therefore,  Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30,   “Come to Me,  all who are weary  and heavy-laden,  and I will give you rest.     Take My yoke  upon you  and learn  from Me, for I am gentle  and humble  in heart,  and YOU WILL FIND REST  FOR YOUR SOULS.     For My yoke is easy  and My burden is light.”

John 14:15   “If you love Me,  you will  keep My commandments.”

Jesus also said  in John 6:47,  “Truly,  truly,  I say  to you,  he who believes  has eternal life.”

Therefore,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     LORD, thank You for Your grace.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional  to glorify  the LORD of lords  and GOD of gods.

Pray for our country.

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The LORD  made this day, let us rejoice  and be glad  in Him.

Psalm 118:24

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The word of the LORD is tried;

He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.

Psalm 18:30

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Sing for joy  in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming  to the upright.

Psalm 33:1

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How blessed are those  who dwell  in Thy house!

They are ever praising Thee.

Psalm 84:4

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Just as a father  has compassion  on his children,

So the LORD  has compassion  on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:13

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O give thanks  to the LORD,  for He is good;

For His lovingkindness  is everlasting.

Psalm 107:1

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Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart  of those who seek the LORD  be glad.

Psalm 105:3

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Not that I have already obtained it,  or have already  become perfect,   but I press on  in order that  I may  lay hold  of that  for which also  I was laid hold of  by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12

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