Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts!
Colossians 3:15
The disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put Him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus (John 20:10-14), the Source of every mercy (2 Corinthians 1:3 TLB).
“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. You shall make two winged angels on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherubim on each end, making the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat, on the two ends of it,” Exodus 17:19 AMP.
The Word of Truth had yet to be revealed. Mary had no clue she was gazing upon the genuine mercy seat where laid the Righteous One, Jesus Christ, the atoning sacrifice for our sins. But not only for the sins of those who believe in Him, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2).
Jesus is the Truth. Jesus is the Life. Jesus is Way (John 14:6) for us to follow for He leads us to the Throne of Grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was as white as snow, the hair of His head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before Him.
One like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven approached the Ancient of Days, and was led into His presence. He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power. All peoples, nations of every language worship Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed (Daniel 7:9-14).
Blessed are those the Son of Man disciplines, who are taught from God’s Word. For they will be granted relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked, who pour out arrogant words, for they are all full of prideful boasting.
If only these senseless ones would take heed! If only these fools would become wise? Does He who implanted the ear not hear? Does He who formed the eye not see? Does He who disciplines nations not punish? Does He who teaches lack knowledge? The Lord knows their thoughts. He knows they are futile (Psalm 94:4-13).
This is what happened: People knew God, but when they didn’t treat Him like God, refusing to worship Him they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God, Who holds the whole world in His hands, for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand.
So, God said in effect, “If that’s what you want, that’s what you get.” It wasn’t long before they were living in a pigpen, filthy inside and out. And all of this because they traded the true God for a fake – the God we bless! The God Who blesses us! (Romans 1:21-25 Message).
Yes, how blessed our those who possess the faith to confidently proclaim: God knows when I sit down and when I get up. He knows my thoughts from far away. He knows everything I do. The Lord even knows what I want to say before the words leave my mouth. He is in me! He encompasses me all around – in front and behind. I am amazed at what He knows. It is too much for me to understand.
His Spirit in me, with me everywhere I go. How wonderful to feel His presence and know He will take my hand and lead me. To know God’s strong right hand will always protect me. To know how precious His thoughts about me are. They cannot be measured! If I could count them, they would be more than all the grains of sand. When I finished, I would have just begun.
How very sad for those who don’t possess this knowledge of the Lord. Who thinks when the day changes to night the darkness will hide them. They don’t realize darkness is not dark to the Lord (Psalm 139:2-12 ERV).
But as for those who love the Lord, they desire to dwell in the light of His presence: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Test me and know my anxious thoughts. Lord, point out anything in me that is offensive to You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life (Psalm 139:23-24 NLT).
Yes, God made the wisdom of this world look foolish. And in His wisdom saw to it, those who live in darkness without the Light of Life would never know Him through human wisdom. Yes, God uses what seems foolish – preaching – to save those who believe (1 Corinthians 1:20-21 NLT) with their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
However, those who live in the darkness of the sinful nature will have their minds set on whatever that nature desires. The mind of a sinful person is death, but the mind regulated by the Spirit is life and peace. The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so (Romans 8:5-7).
But now, anyone who is in Christ Jesus is not judged guilty. This is because in Christ the law of the Spirit that brings life makes us free. Free from the law that brings sin and death (Romans 8:1-2 ERV). Within the law of Moses there are 613 commandments. And those who choose to live according to the entire Law of Moses, instead of the Law of Life with faith in God’s Word, Christ Jesus, if they stumble at just one point, they are guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10).
The Law of Moses is without power because it was made weak by our sinful selves. But God, He did what the law could not do: He sent His own Son to earth with the same human life that everyone else uses to glorify their sinful nature.
God sent Jesus to be an offering to pay for sin. God used a human life to destroy sin! He did this so we could be right just as the law said we must be. Now we don’t live following our sinful selves. We live to follow the Spirit of God (Romans 8:1-4 ERV). And in God’s kingdom, this is what’s important: A right way of life, peace, and joy – all from Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17 ERV).
Know, the Lord gives strength to His people! The Lord blesses His people with peace! (Psalm 29:11). Yes, the Word of God will keep in perfect peace all who trust in Him, all whose thoughts are fixed on Him! (Isaiah 26:3 NLT), for Jesus Himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:14). He has made a covenant of peace with His people (Ezekiel 34:25 NLT).
Unto us a Child is born, a Son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment and zeal of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen (Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT).
In His days the righteous will flourish!
Prosperity will abound till the moon is no more!
For the Son of God will rule from sea to sea!
Psalm 72:7-8