PSALM 119:165: “Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.” NKJV
OBSERVATION: What is the secret to a lasting peace in my life? How can I navigate the storms of life and still have peace? Why does peace so often elude me?
I don’t know about you, but I need peace! I need Great Peace! In a world that is reeling from this present pandemic, a shattered economy, and a sense of utter hopelessness, we all need peace. The peace we need is not the removal of the crisis. It is rest in the midst of the crisis.
This pandemic has done a lot to shake our lives and the church. It reminds me of a verse in Hebrews.
- “…Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:26-29 NKJV
When we are trusting in anything that is unstable, God is faithful to allow a shaking to take place in our lives. Why? It is so that the tares will be separated from the wheat. It is so that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. During this present pandemic, every church, and every pastor have had time to reflect on what truly cannot be shaken. It is in understanding what cannot be shaken that we discover the secret of peace.
To discover what cannot be shaken we need to be honest with what can be shaken. Everything that is temporal in our lives can be shaken. Our church buildings are not eternal. Our finances are not eternal. Our worship music is not eternal. Our programs are not eternal. And, even our earthly mission is not eternal.
The only thing that is eternal is the Word of God!
- “Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” I Peter 1:23-25 NKJV
- “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 NKJV
I was told that when a Jewish person reads from the Torah, when they are finished, they kiss the scroll. Why do they do this. It is because they understand what many Christians forget. The Word is God! Jesus came to reveal the Father through His words. Jesus knew that He was the Eternal Word and that it was only His Word that would bring lasting peace.
- “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NKJV
It is the very Word of God, the Eternal Word, the revelation that was made flesh and dwelt among us, that brings peace. When we look for peace any where else we are disappointed. Even our prayers, unless they are rooted and grounded in the Word of God, will not bring peace. It is when we pray according to God’s Word, and after praying continue to abide in the Word, that we experience the peace that passes all human understanding.
- “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:6-9 NKJV
We so often forget the second part of Philippians 4:6-9. Paul exhorts us to – meditate on these things. What are these things? They are the things that flow from the Word of God! Only God’s Word is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, full of virtue, and praiseworthy! It is when our prayers are flowing from God’s Word, our meditations are centered on God’s Word, and our actions are in obedience to God’s Word – that we experience the promise.
- “…and the God of peace will be with you!”
This is why the Psalmist proclaims,
- “Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.” Psalms 119:165 NKJV
Lord, this morning, may my prayer, may my meditation, and may my actions – flow from Your Word! Grant me the grace to walk according to Your Word so that I might experience Your Great Peace!
In Jesus Name!
