Do You Not Find Bold Strength in the Name of Jesus?
Good Morning Friends,
There is a theology of place…the mountains and the seas and the city on a hill, but it is not so much in these places of grace, but in the people of grace… that we find a home….a community of love that knows the power and peace of Jesus. Here in the middle of relationships we discover that this peace is a gift from God. Here on our journey from Easter to Pentecost and beyond we recognize that we too can be filled with the Holy Spirit and the Words of Jesus….It is here we discover that abiding in Jesus we grow the fruit of peace. Do You Not Find Bold Strength in the Name of Jesus?
Scripture: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
John 14:15-27 (NRSV)
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
Acts 4:13-22 (NIV)
5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Romans 6:5 (NRSV)
Message: We do so look for places of peace and grace. We look for the perfect place to live and work and we seek relationships of peace as well, but peace seems so elusive for most of us. We look at the world and have to wonder if peace is really possible. Then in today’s scripture we remember the words of Jesus that He shared with his disciples on their last night before the crucifixion. Then we hear the words of Jesus, saying in His risen body to the disciples…”Peace.” Then we read in Acts about the how the disciples acted on these words as they faced trials and persecution in the tension of change and became strong. Friends, peace grows and thrives where respect and love of other believers are present. Peace grows and thrives when we become clear witnesses of God’s power in our lives. Peace grows when we obey the Lord. Peace grows in us when God’s peace takes us over. Here in this place of peace we discover God’s purpose and our potential through acts of faith.
Pray that in every difficult situation in life we find the peace and courage in the words of Jesus. Pray that in prayer we would find perspective. Pray that here we discover that peace is a fruit of the Spirit, a true hope for a stressed out world. Pray that in prayer God would cultivate this peace in our lives. Pray we grow in peace with God and are reconciled to Him and within ourselves as well. Pray we have peace in God’s plan and obedience to God’s will. Pray we have peace with others found in mutual respect and deliverance from threats. Pray we not worry about anything but pray about everything. Pray we tell God what we need. Pray we thank God and experience peace for in it will also be our strength. Pray we speak boldly because Christ is in us.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 