It is time for new study, something more we can flourish in, let’s now try to flourish even more in 2024 in peace. If the Lord wills, over the next few weeks we will study to gain a better understanding of peace so that we can truly “seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14) as God commands. We will look at all things that pertain to it: how to attain it, how to maintain it, and how to be at peace with God, our brethren, and mankind.
For today, I would
like you to consider these two verses that command us to pursue peace:
“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (1 Timothy 2:22 NKJV)
“Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.” (1 Peter 3:11 NKJV)
In both of these
passages we are given instruction to turn and run away from evil, and eagerly
seek after peace. The peace spoken of in both these verses means 'being at one again.' When we sin we are
no longer ‘at one’ with God (consider Isaiah 59:1-2), we have followed
after something in the opposite direction from God (James 1:14-15).
Jesus is our peace (please take the time today to read Ephesians
2), it is Jesus’ sacrifice that grants us access to the Father so we may come
boldly to the throne of grace and obtain mercy and find grace (Hebrews 4:16); it is only through His
willing sacrifice that we can be forgiven (1
John 1:5-10), when we wholly repent* of our sin.
*Repent means to: recognize you are lost in sin, regret what you have done, resolve to turn your back on sin and sinful habits, reform your life to keep from sin, and return to your Father, wholly submitting to His will (borrowed from my Dad’s sermon yesterday morning)
If you are not a
Christian and realize you have sinned, you need to repent of your sin and be
baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:26-29, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38),
because every spiritual blessing, including redemption and forgiveness of sins,
are only found in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14). When you are baptized
into Christ (Romans 6:3-4), it is
described as being buried with Him into death (putting to death and burying the sinful person you were) and just
as Jesus was raised by the glory of the Father, you too are raised to walk in “newness
of life” – with a clean slate – a new life in which you learn to choose
God and His way every day (alongside
those who also call on the Lord out of pure heart, 2 Timothy 2:22-26) instead
of the ways of the devil (1 John 2:15-17,
5:18-20).
If you are a Christian
and realize you have sinned you need to repent of your sin and run to God and
confess your sin to Him; He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1
John 1:9).
We are no longer to be
participating in sin – Jesus died to
redeem us from the bondage of sin and grant us peace with our Father, why would
we choose to return to the destructive ways of sin when we have access to restorative
peace with God? Appreciate Jesus’ sacrifice and joy in your peace
with God! Turn from evil, abhor it and its ways, and cling to God and His way (consider Romans 6:1-23, 12:9, and Ephesians 4:17-24)!
Jesus provided the way
– take it! Make your life right with God! If you need to come to the Lord or
come back to the Lord, let today be the day!!
If you would like to talk more about how to become a Christian
please email me – I would love to talk to you about it!
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