Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #1 - Peace With One Another (Mark 9:50) Mark 9:50, Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. A man bought a farm, and soon after he met his nearest neighbor. "Have you bought this place?" asked the neighbor. "Yes." "Well, you've bought a lawsuit." "How is that?" "Well, sir, I claim your fence line is ten feet on my side, and I am going to take the matter to the court and prove it." The newcomer said, "Oh! don't do that. If the fence is on your side of the line we will just take it up and move it back." "Do you mean it?" "Of course, I do," was the answer. "Well," said the man, "that fence stays just where it is." The word peace means more than living life with no conflict. It refers to tranquility of life in the midst of problems. This has the idea of binding or weaving together; to join. It means that a person is bound, woven and joined together with himself, with God and with others. It is the sense that our lives are tightly bound in the Lord and the very fabric of our being has been woven in Him. Peace is always born out of reconciliation. Its source is found only in the reconciliation wrought by Jesus Christ. Peace always has to do with personal relationships: a man's relationship with himself, with God, and with his fellow men. The Holy Spirit can eliminate our stress if we allow Him to produce three kinds of peace in our lives. The first kind of peace is... 1. Peace with God (Romans 5:1) Romans 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Peace begins with God (Romans 5:1). We receive peace with God when we receive His gift of salvation. Peace with God means there is no more hostility between God and us, no sin blocking our relationships with Him or diverting us from His purpose. Peace with God means we no longer live as enemies of God and His purpose for our lives. Only those who receive Jesus Christ enjoy peace with God. Peace with God is a gift we receive when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Everyone is searching for peace because our lives are often filled with the stress of pressures, problems, and pain. Stress gets us down; that's why more prescriptions are written for antidepressants than just about any other drug. 2. Peace of God (Philippians 4:7) Philippians 4:7, And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. There is peace of God (Philippians 4:7) which comes from prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving to God (Philippians 4:6). The Christian can enjoy peace in the midst of trouble. Peace is not found in the absence of trouble but in the presence of God. Every promise in the Bible has a premise. The premise, or condition, for receiving the peace of God is prayer. In life we have two choices: pray or panic. Prayer keeps our minds focused on God's power rather than on our problems. How does Isaiah 26:3 express this wonderful truth? Isaiah 26:3, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. The Hebrew word stayed means fixed or focused. When we focus on God and trust Him, we will experience perfect peace of heart, mind, and soul. 3. Peace Among Others (Romans 12:18) Romans 12:18, If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. As Christians, we are to be peacemakers, not "peace breakers", everywhere we go. James 3:18, And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. We cannot make peace with one another if we do not have peace within our own hearts. Peace begins with God because He is the author of peace (I Corinthians 14:33). I Corinthians 14:33, For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. The devil would rather have us in confusion, division, and friction with one another. To be at peace one with another is an admonition to brother-love and forbearance, a requirement frequently stressed by the Lord and absolutely mandatory for all who would follow in his steps. God’s people should be in the business of examining their own hearts. We need to remember that it glorifies God when His people live lives of commitment and character. Ephesians 4:3, Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. God’s glorified when we forget about who might be the greatest among us and prove that we are His by loving one another and by being at peace one with another! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the Prince of Peace and all the ways He brings peace to my life. Thank You first for establishing peace with me by allowing Your Son to settle all the debts and offenses that would have prevented me from ever knowing You. Thank You for the peace of Your presence and power in my life that overcomes all obstacles and draws me to You. In Jesus Name, AMEN! Thank you for reading Biblical Building Block #1 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for Part 2. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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