June 19:  Enjoying His Peace.

HIS ARGUMENT.
"If then you cannot do even a very little [add a single hour to your lifespan], why do you worry about other matters?"--Luke 12:26


Many have shared  with me their techniques to combat worry.  Some imagine the worst possible scenario, accept it, and seek to improve on it.  Others rely on statistics, calculating the chances of getting hit by lightning  or dying in a car crash.  And still others use calming resources and breathing exercises.  But most people find that these methods are not enough.  We are a society of worrywarts in need of facing the root of our anxiety.

It has been reported that Kindle's most highlighted Bible text is Philippians 4:6, 7, a passage that addresses anxiety,* showing how our society is struggling with worry.  In Luke 12, Jesus addresses our worry and anxiety, mentioning the concept several times.  Starting from verse 22, Jesus offers a sequence of arguments against worry: First, those of us who worry about what we will eat and wear have a limited perception of what life is really all about, "For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing" (verse 23).  Jesus draws His second argument from nature, utilizing the style of lesser to greater: if God feeds the ravens and clothes the lilies, how much more will He take care of us!  Thirdly, Jesus points out the futility and unproductiveness of anxiety, highlighting that we can't add an hour to our lifespan by worrying.  If we can't do this "very little thing" through worrying, who do we worry about other matters? (verse 26).  The  culmination of Jesus' arguments is an alternative way of life to the anxiety-driven struggle to meet one's own needs, and it is based on a simple and powerful awareness: "Your Father knows that you need these things" (verse 30).  He is in control.  He is grateful to provide.  He knows what we need, and He is more than willing to give these things to us.  We are, thus, set free from self-protecting concerns and can now focus our energies on the gospel propagation.  Yes!  Jesus sets us free from fear, worry, and anxiety!  Woo-hoo!

My Response:___________________________________________________________
* Robinson Meyer, "The Most Popular Passages in Books, According to Kindle Data," Atlantic, November 2, 2014, https://wwww.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/11/the passages-that readers-love/381373/.

June 18:  Enjoying His Peace.

HIS CLEANSING.
"I am willing; be cleansed."--Matthew 8:3

We don't hear much about leprosy anymore, even though the disease is still around.  Yet there are other physical, mental, and emotional conditions that carry a similar social stigma for their victims.  Sometimes people end up being known by their misfortune, bad experience, or mistake, instead of their name.  There goes the divorcee!  Or did you hear about the jailbird?  How about the adulteress?!  Unfortunately, society in general is quick to judge and marginalize, robbing people of their worth.

It is hard for us to fully understand the impact the story recorded in Matthew 8:2, 3 would have left on the listeners.  At the time, leprosy was the most dreaded disease, barring its victims from society because they were considered ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 13; 14).  People afflicted by leprosy had to warn others about their misfortune by crying out loud: "Unclean!  Unclean!" (Leviticus 13:45).  A leper came to Jesus and prostrated himself in front of Him (Matthew 8:2).  Somehow, perhaps by witnessing a miracle of Jesus, this man had become convinced that Jesus had the ability to heal him from leprosy: "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean" (verse 2).  It was all up to Jesus; it was His choice!  Would He be willing?  In an astounding show of compassion and care, Jesus "stretched out His hand and touched him" (verse 3).  Can you imagine the shock?  The leper probably had not felt human touch in years!  The ritual law stated that if someone touched a leper, they too immediately became ceremonially unclean (see Leviticus 5:3).  But not in this case!  Instead of Jesus becoming a leper, the leper was cleansed.  Jesus had not only the power to heal but also the willingness to do so.  He said, "I am willing; be cleansed.'  And immediately his leprosy was cleansed" (verse 3).  Jesus wanted to heal this man.  When, due to our mistakes, addictions, or the guilt of our sin, we feel separated from our true selves, others, and God, let's remember that Jesus has the power and willingness to heal us.  Let's come to His feet and ask for healing and peace.  He will answer: "I am willing; be cleansed."

My Response:_________________________________________________________

June 17:  Enjoying His Peace.

HIS PEACEMAKING.
"Leave your offering there before the altar and go, first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering."--Matthew 5:24

We arrived at an inpatient rehab where one of our acquaintances needed to stay for a while, due to alcohol abuse.  A sign outside the building had a quotation that made a lasting impact on my mind: "Those who are at war with others are not at peace with themselves." *  Later on, I learned that the words are attributed to William Hazlitt, a British writer, who authored many other such quotes.

God took the initiative to reconcile us to Himself, and when we believe in the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf, we are given true and absolute peace with God: "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).  This is a core principle of the gospel: we didn't earn our peace, but we have peace through Jesus.  This is the vertical dimension of peace.  Having received this divine gift through Jesus, His followers are to follow the overflowing of that peace into their daily affairs with all people (the horizontal dimension), becoming peacemakers, as far as it depends on them (see Romans 12:18).  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed this, pronouncing a blessing over peacemakers: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).  In this sermon, Jesus makes six pronouncements expanding the meaning of the commandment (Matthew 5:21-48).  The first one is about the commandment: "You shall not commit murder" (verse 21), which Jesus expands to include anger against our fellow humans (verse 22).  His first illustration on this statement is: "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering" (verses 23, 24).  As God did with us, we are to take the initiative.  After we have done our part to share the peace that we have been given, then God will accept and bless our worship.  Let's share the peace of Jesus that we have received.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. (Matthew 5:9).

My Response:_________________________________________________________

June 16:  Enjoying His Peace.

HIS VIEWPOINT.
"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."--Matthew 5:12

In my travels, I like to watch how children behave in planes because their perspective usually doesn't match that of adults.  Not long ago, I was on a flight that encountered serious turbulence.  Some children were really enjoying the air instability; every time the plane went up and down, they made joyful sounds as if they were on a roller-coaster ride.  In the meantime, all the adults were anxiously looking around.  The presence and care of their parents allowed these children to rejoice when everyone else was worried and anxious.

Faith is trusting a different reality in the middle of the storm, because our Kinsman-Redeemer watches over us and has revealed to us how the story ends.  The Beatitudes, spoken by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, offer a heavenly viewpoint about the circumstances that we face here on earth.  "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me" (Matthew 5:11).  Blessed when persecuted, insulted, and falsely accused?  He continues: "Rejoice and be glad for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (verse 12).  Jesus offers a different perspective.  Throughout the ages, the followers of Christ have encountered opposition and discomfort.  Even the great men of old, such as Moses, Elijah, David, and Jeremiah, often cried out to God in despair as they faced enemies and foes.  Yet they were strengthened by God, trusting that their trials served a greater and divine purpose, and that His presence was with them (take a moment to read their stories in Hebrews 11).  Insults and opposition are to be received with rejoicing, for we are called to be witnesses in the redemption history of humankind.  Heaven awaits those who have trusted in the merits of Christ, even to the point of extreme suffering.  Difficulties and struggles may be part of the storms of this life, yet Jesus has offered us heaven's viewpoint: "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

My Response:_________________________________________________________

July 10:  Affirming His Grace.

HIS GENTLENESS.
"A battered reed He will not break off, and a smoldering wick He will not put out."--Matthew 12:20

Deborah Hall just wouldn't give up.  She convinced her husband Ron to join her in volunteering at the local mission, where they met Denver, a tough homeless man who often had outbursts of unfriendly and threatening behavior.  However, through Debbie's perseverance and gentleness, God broke down the barriers in Denver's heart and won him over; Ron and Denver became life-long friends.  When Debbie died of cancer, Denver gave an emotional testimony at her funeral about the life-changing influence she had on him.

After Jesus healed a man with a withered hand, Matthew reports that He withdrew from there, yet many followed Him, and He healed them (Matthew 12:15).  Then Matthew presents another prophetic formula, the longest Old Testament quotation in this Gospel (Matthew 12:18-21).  It is the first of four songs in Isaiah about God's coming Servant (Isaiah 42:1-4).  This is the only time in the Gospel that Jesus is called God's Servant ("My Servant," Matthew 12:18).  It is striking that this passage highlights the gentle and hope-filled ministry of Jesus, particularly for those who are at their wit's end.  "A battered reed He will not break off, and a smoldering wick He will not put out...and in His name the Gentiles will hope."  (Matthew 12:20, 21).  A bent reed could no longer be used as a measuring instrument nor to sustain any kind of structure; a smoldering wick had to be replaced in order to serve its purpose.  But Jesus refused to give up on people like that.  R. T. France explains: "The imagery thus describes an extraordinary willingness to encourage damaged or vulnerable people, giving them a further opportunity to succeed which a result-oriented society would deny them....Here Matthew finds a further portrait of the meek and lowly Jesus who offers a kind yoke and a light burden; the giver of rest to the toiling and heavily loaded (11:28-30). *  Are you in the midst of hopeless circumstances?  Jesus is gentle, patient, and kind, and He is not giving up on you; you can count on that!

My Response:_________________________________________________________
* R.T. France, The Gospel of Matthew, NICNT (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2007), 473.

June 15:  Enjoying His Peace.

HIS BLESSING.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."--Matthew 5:3

Who are the fortunate, happy, and blessed ones?  I am sure you have heard this classic story: "A king was suffering from a painful ailment and was told that the only cure for him was to find a contented man, get his shirt, and wear it night and day.  So, messengers were sent through the king's realm in search of such a man, with orders to bring back his shirt.  Months passed.  After a thorough search of the country, the messengers returned without the shirt.  'Did you find a contented man in all my realm?' the king asked.  'Yes, O King, we found one, just one in all the realm?'  'Then why did you not bring back his shirt?' the king demanded.  'Master, the man had no shirt.' " *

In one of the most famous discourses, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus announces the kingdom's manifesto, highlighting who these blessed ones really are.  In nine Beatitudes, Jesus turns the values of the world upside down, starting with today's devotional text: "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3).  In Judaism, the poor in spirit and the materially poor were closely related concepts (see Luke 6:20), as this is usually the frame of mind of those who are struggling to make ends meet.  God has always shown a special concern for the needy and afflicted (see Psalm 9:18).  As a matter of fact, the mission of the Messiah, fulfilled in Jesus, was focused on the poor: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor" (Luke 4:18, NKJV; see also Isaiah 61:1).  How could the poor and the poor in spirit be called blessed, while the world venerated strength and power?  The present tense of this particular beatitude is of much importance: "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3).  Not will be as in other Beatitudes.  The poor in spirit not only have a future inheritance but can partake of the blessings of the kingdom now, in the present.  The poor have no other resource or hope than what is promised by God.  And when all we have left is God, that's when we realize that God is more than enough. Yes, we are blessed!

My Response:_________________________________________________________
* Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7000 Illustrations (Rockvill, MD: Assurance Publishers 1979), 272, 273.

June 14:  Enjoying His Peace.

HIS HEALING.
"He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases."--Matthew 8:17

I had the immense privilege of visiting the synagogue at Capernaum.  As I stood there, while we were filming a video for our ministry, I was overwhelmed by the thought that I was walking where Jesus had walked.  After we left the synagogue, our guide took us to an excavated site that is believed to have been Peter's house.  Once again, it was as if the Bible was coming alive in front of my eyes, as I pictured Jesus entering Peter's house and healing his mother-in-law.

This event (Matthew 8:14-17; see also Mark 1:29-31) is the third healing miracle in this chapter, following the cleansing of the leper (Matthew 8:1-4), and the healing of the centurion's servant (verses 5-13).  "When Jesus came into Peter's home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever.  He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him" (verses 14, 15).  The focus of this passage is on Jesus: He saw...He touched...He cast out the spirits...and healed all who were ill (verses 14-17).  Touching a person with fever was against the laws of the rabbis, still Jesus touched Peter's mother-in-law, as He had touched the leper.  The fever left her immediately, and she served Him (verse 15).  A summary verse (verse 16) portrays the inclusivity of Jesus' healing ministry, as He was casting out demons with a word (in the same way He had healed the centurion's servant) and healed all who were ill (verse 16).  But perhaps the most meaningful part of these verses is that Matthew end this section by proposing that Jesus is fulfilling Isaiah 53:4, which is  the prophecy about the ultimate ministry of God's Servant: "This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 'He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases' " (Matthew 8:17).  In Isaiah, this sentence precedes the verse that explains that Jesus not only paid the price for our transgressions and iniquities but also purchased the right to bless us with His peace and His healing (Isaiah 53:5).  Is your soul downcast?  Is your heart sick due to shame?  Jesus paid for your healing with His blood!

My Response:_________________________________________________________________

June 13:  Enjoying His Peace.

HIS ABILITY.
Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"--Matthew 9:28

When we worry, we're saying, 'God can't.' " says Linda Dillow--"If we are walking in anxiety, we're not walking in faith.  We want to be women of faith, yet often worry becomes our middle name....We're familiar with the small trickle of fear that meanders through our minds until it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.  We must conquer this 'God can't disease." *  Do we really believe that God is able to save us, to restore us, and to guide us?

Two blind men followed Jesus, "crying out, 'Have mercy on us, Son of David!' " (Matthew 9:27).  Matthew uses the title "Son of David" more than any other Gospel.  It is spoken mostly by those requesting mercy, healing, and deliverance.  It is rooted in the Old Testament prophecies about a new Davidic ruler, through Whom God  would heal and give rest to Israel (Ezekiel 34:11-15, 23, 24).  Blindness was often considered a judgment of God (see John 9:2; Deuteronomy 28:28), and the blind  became outcasts, begging for survival (John 9:8).  On this occasion, Jesus asks a most intriguing question, unique to this Gospel: "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"  (Matthew 9:28).  They responded, "Yes, Lord" (verse 28), and their eyes were opened (verse 30).  It is very helpful to understand that anxiety and worry are often rooted in the belief that God is not able, that He doesn't have the power to take care of a particular situation.  In the Bible, blindness is a common metaphor for spiritual darkness.  God promised of His Chosen Servant:
                   
                   "I will appoint you as a covenant to the people,
                    As a light to the nations,
                    To open blind eyes,
                    To bring out prisoners from the dungeon
                    And those who dwell in darkness from the prison"
                    (Isaiah 42:6, 7).

Let's rest, believing in His ability to save and heal us.  Do you believe He is able?  Oh, yes!  He is able.  I know He is able!

My Response:_________________________________________________________
* Linda Dillow, Calm My Anxious Heart: A Woman's Guide to Finding Contentment (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2007), 116.

June 12:  Enjoying His Peace.

HIS SECLUSION.
"Come away...to a secluded place and rest a while."--Mark 6:31

Sometimes your soul needs to catch up with your mind and body.  I had a strong sense that God was asking me to take some time off and concentrate on my PhD dissertation.  But I was the senior pastor of a church and things were going well, and there was so much to do...yet God seemed to insist.  God knew I needed time away from my ministry to be instructed and refreshed.  However, requesting leave without pay; to finish my doctoral studies, was one of the hardest things I've ever done, because it went against my personality and my sense of mission.

As the disciples wrap up their mission to the Galilean region, they come to Jesus and joyfully report to Him, "all that they had done and taught" (verse 30).  I can imagine how excited they were to recount their experiences.  This is the only time in Mark (with the exception of 3:14 in certain manuscripts) that the disciples are called apostles (one who is sent).  They had been sent on a mission (see Mark 6:7-13) and they had plenty of  testimonies to share with Jesus.  In response, they receive an imperative from Jesus, which in the Greek original reads: "Come you yourselves privately to a desolate place and rest a little" (Mark 6:30). *  This is a command from Jesus that we all need to heed.  The mandate of Jesus was to rest in divinely-ordained seclusion, in solitude in an uninhabited place, in contrast to the many people coming and going when they were ministering (verse 31).  You don't need to be a professional minister to observe this command.  During times of seclusion and solitude, God provides true rest, spiritual nourishment, guidance, revelation, instruction, and much more.  Jesus often instructed His disciples privately (for example, see Mark 9:28; 13:3), and He does the same with us.  In a culture that celebrates busyness, results, and achievements, let's remember that sometimes less is really more.  Overextending ourselves, even in ministry, leaves us depleted of energy and insight.  God wants private time with us, to remind us of His love.  During times of retreat, He reveals to us the magnitude of His grace, the sufficiency of His sacrifice, and His assurance for the future.

My Response:_________________________________________________________
* J.D. Douglas, The New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament, 4th rev.ed. (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 1993).

June 11:  Enjoying His Peace.

HIS CONTROL.
"Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him."--Mark 4:41

The Sea of Galilee is prone to sudden storms, because it is surrounded by mountains and is approximately 685 feet below sea level.  At times, the cool air from the Mediterranean Sea comes down through the mountain passes with fierce force and clashes violently with the hot air of the enclosed lake.  I will never forget being on a boat on the same lake where Jesus calmed the storm.  We saw fishing nets, we sang together, but most of all I imagined Jesus calming the angry waters while the helpless disciples wondered: "Who is this?"

Having addressed the wind and the water, that were by now completely calm, Jesus addressed the disciples: "Why are you afraid?" (Mark 4:40).  Well, isn't it obvious?  They were afraid because they thought they were perishing; they couldn't control the storm, no matter  how hard they tried.  We become afraid for the same reasons: we can't stop the phone calls, the medical results, the bad news.  We just can't do it!  When Jesus stilled the wind and the sea, the disciples were in awe: "They became very much afraid and said to one another, 'Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?' " (verse 41).  Really, Who is this?  The question "Who is this?" is repeated many times in the first half of Mark's Gospel.  The authoritative Messiah is being revealed.  This story is the beginning of a crescendo of the power of Jesus.  First, His power over nature; next, His control over evil and demons (5:1-20), and the following two stories display His power over disease and death (verses 21-43).  But the most striking realization in this Gospel is that Jesus, the powerful Son of God, who controls the wind and the sea, was to be the Servant, submitting His life as a ransom for many (see Mark 10:45).  Jesus, the authoritative Messiah, would become the Suffering Servant, and would lay down His power and conquer evil through suffering.  The Gospel of Mark is dedicated to understanding this profound juxtaposition: the authoritative Son of God is also the Suffering Son of Man.  Jesus is sovereign, and through the cross He gained the crown.  Let's submit ourselves to His control.

My Response:_________________________________________________________