This is post #6 of a series entitled Peacemakers for the Cause of Christ – Facilitators of God’s Peace in a World Looking for Peace. We hope you’ll enjoy these 31 podcasts and blogs that focus on our great need in today’s society for peacemakers; men, women, and children who are willing to step away from all the contempt, division, and hatred, and step in toward the blessed call of being Christ-centered peacemakers for the greater glory of God. Here you’ll find very practical and biblically-sound advice on building bridges instead of walls, offering hope instead of despair. Here’s the homepage for the entire series.
Click on the link below to listen to the podcast version of this blog!
Truth #2: Peacemakers Find Themselves in Christ.
Today’s Lectio Divina: “Don’t let this throw you. (Jesus said) You trust God, don’t you? Trust Me. There is plenty of room for you in My Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on My way to get a room ready for you? And if I’m on My way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I’m taking.” Thomas said, “Master, we have no idea where You’re going. How do you expect us to know the road?” Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from Me. If you really knew Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on, you do know Him. You’ve even seen Him!” Philip said, “Master, show us the Father; then we’ll be content.” “You’ve been with me all this time, Philip, (Jesus replied) and you still don’t understand? To see Me is to see the Father. So how can you ask, ‘Where is the Father?’ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I speak to you aren’t mere words. I don’t just make them up on My own. The Father who resides in Me crafts each word into a divine act. Believe Me: I am in my Father and my Father is in Me. If you can’t believe that, believe what you see—these works.” John 14: 1-11 (MsgB)
As we discussed last time, when Jesus warns His friends that there will come a time on planet earth when:
- life conditions will get so bad that confusion will reign,
- the hearts of many will grow cold, but…
- staying with “it” is what God desires…
Inquiring minds want to know…
Jesus, what is the “it” You want me to stay with?
You see, when Jesus of Nazareth was with His first-century disciples, there was a similar dilemma going on. For three years, these well-meaning, high-spirited guys and gals assumed that they were doing the “it” that God was asking them to do. Day after day, they walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, ate and drank with Jesus, and even ministered right alongside the Master. Yet, as the time got closer for Jesus’ departure, it’s very apparent (just look at today’s Lectio Divina) that the disciples, while spending three years directly with Jesus, were all pretty clueless when asked what they had been learning along the way.
You see, like so many Christians today, these first-century disciples didn’t understand that the “it” (in Jesus’ eyes) was the relationship with God’s Son that was the true game-changer when it came to “doing” the right thing.
So, when Phillip says, “Jesus, will you now show us the Father,” Jesus is flabbergasted by the fact that His friends had been spending most of the last three years with God incarnate, but missed the fact entirely that being with Jesus was the equivalent to walking and talking with God!
Did you get that?
You see, if you and I, as disciples of Jesus want to “stay with it,” when it comes to walking out our spirituality with God, the best way to do just that is to simply stay with Jesus. As a matter of fact, if you read Jesus’ words here carefully, and you or I want to be close to God during these troubling times, it simply just won’t work very well if we don’t get closer to Jesus.
Why, you ask?
Because Jesus, the Son, is not just made in the image and likeness of God like we are (see Genesis 1) but the Master is God. He’s God incarnate. God in the flesh. Not flesh trying to be like God, but true God in skin, muscle, blood and bones!
So, when Jesus warns us about these trying times ahead…
In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes…
His solution is simple.
Stay with Him. Walk with Him.
He is the Road. He is the Truth. He is the Life.
In Him, and through Him, is the only Way through the tough times ahead.
Obeying His commands are the only words worth living.
Listening to Him is the only voice worth listening to.
Walking alongside Him, allowing Him to lead while I follow is the only way of “staying with it.”
Get it?
And, as I see it, if you and I can stay with Him in the days ahead, giving Him our undivided attention and adoration, there’s a wonderful revelation of Truth coming our way. A Truth, as Jesus said, which can set us free.
More on that next time.
My Prayer: Jesus, this isn’t rocket science. You were very clear with Your first century friends. If I want to be closer to God, the Father, I need to be closer to You. If I want to “stay with it” in these turbulent times, I know with complete certainty, I need to stay close to You. Holy Spirit, thank You for Your part in keeping me close to the Master. Indwell and empower me to stay close. For Your Name’s sake. Amen.
A Few Questions to Ponder: Have I replaced relationship with the Master with doing good things for God? If so, what do I need to jettison in my life so I can return to Jesus’ simple command of “Come, follow Me?” What will it look like for me today to move closer to Jesus?
So, how are you experiencing God’s presence as you are becoming a peacemaker for the cause of Christ?
Peacemakers for the Cause of Christ – Facilitators of God’s Peace in a World Looking for Peace.
We hope you’ll enjoy these 31 podcasts and blogs that focus on our great need in today’s society for peacemakers; men, women, and children who are willing to step away from all the contempt, division, and hatred, and step in toward the blessed call of being Christ-centered peacemakers for the greater glory of God. Here’s the homepage for the entire series.
If you like what you’re reading, might we suggest you share this page with others!
Click here to go on to the next blog/podcast in this series…
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