“You cannot find peace by avoiding life.”
LUKE 12:35-59
49“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
JOURNAL
This word is extremely disconcerting. First of all God allows the Philistines to capture the Ark...then Jesus here claims that he came to bring division, not peace. What do I do with such difficult words?
Although none of the characters in the Bible knew how it all was going to work out. I do...I get to see the finished story, I get to see how God flips the tables on what most often seems to be doom and gloom. I know that God redeems the Israelites, that the Ark is returned without a fight. I know that Jesus is crucified and comes back and comforts the disciples and gives the gift of the Spirit.
Life is hard, tough things happen. Although at times seemingly absent, God is there and he sees the story through. This is the comfort I have in the difficult seasons and also the warning in the times of Plenty. "Trust God and lean not on my own understanding..."
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Although none of the characters in the Bible knew how it all was going to work out. I do...I get to see the finished story, I get to see how God flips the tables on what most often seems to be doom and gloom. I know that God redeems the Israelites, that the Ark is returned without a fight. I know that Jesus is crucified and comes back and comforts the disciples and gives the gift of the Spirit.
Life is hard, tough things happen. Although at times seemingly absent, God is there and he sees the story through. This is the comfort I have in the difficult seasons and also the warning in the times of Plenty. "Trust God and lean not on my own understanding..."
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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