I AM THE LORD WHO (PART 8)

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

“If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river.”

Isaiah 48:18a

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Peace.

There may be no greater thing we might yearn for today and I say this on a lot of levels.

Look at our world situation.

Terrorism and the evil it manifests seem to be emerging in epidemic fashion. And although at times, these wicked, murderous acts are targeted against a certain person or group (to include mass executions of Christians), the innocent too often become victimized.

Wars have raged for nearly my entire lifetime in one region of the world or another as nation battles against nation with destruction and death center stage. And unfortunately, there is usually no positive outcome or closure.

I could go on about the horrors of adult and child sex trafficking, human slavery, or child soldiering but I think the point is made. We live in a world where peace is hard to find sometimes. But it isn’t just a global issue.

Within the last six months, there have been uprisings of violence and devastation here within the United States as a result of massive protests. Entire neighborhoods and even cities have been burned, looted, and laid to waste in these events that are anything but peaceful. People, often not connected to the actual events being protested, have been injured or killed and in the case of business owners, their dreams and livelihoods have literally been sent up in smoke or stolen away by thieves and looters.

Within relationships, sexual assaults and domestic violence seem to dominate the headlines as people are violated and scarred for life by those who lack a proper regard for human dignity and respect. And before we think this is an issue only impacting adults, we need to keep in mind that innocent children are also victimized way too often by these heinous acts.

This devotion would be volumes long if I continued much more and it would take away from the real point the Lord wants to make today. For if peace is to come to our world, to our communities, and to our homes, then we need to turn our attention fully to the One who is the Prince of peace, the One who speaks to us about Himself and how we are to relate to Him within our scripture passage from Isaiah 48:

This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

“If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river.”  Isaiah 48:18a

Did you hear what the Lord is saying to us this day?

“I am the Lord who brings you peace but only when you pay attention to My commands.”

That’s it, right? It’s really as simple as that.

If we commit ourselves to be obedient to Lord’s commands, we will be taken to a place where peace with reign supreme because we will be in the place He wants for us to be, a place where we are abiding and dwelling in His righteousness. Our conflict issues in the world, in our communities, and in our homes will find resolution in and through the Lord.

The challenge is getting people to realize this and commit to Him. It’s a problem that seems overwhelming for any one person and it is. But we can do our part and make a contribution to the Lord’s desire for a world filled with peace. We can take the step toward fully surrendering our will for His will in our lives and in doing so, allowing His peace to be ours as well.

If enough of us do this, then we have a movement. And when we have a movement of people choosing peace over violence, we see the direction of our surroundings change, altered for the better, not only because peace is now present but also because people are choosing obedience to the Lord’s word and will over the ways of the world.

Won’t you join me today in praying for peace and the turning of human hearts toward following the commands of the Lord because that’s what’s going to bring us the peace we long for.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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