Devotional 130110

Dear brothers and sisters,
Good morning. It is always a joy to share with you my journey of life in Christ. Whenever God gives a gift to us, He does not expect us to just keep it to ourselves. He expects us to share. All that we are and we possess, are the gifts from above. Once we arrive to this realization, we cannot stop sharing with others. Unfortunately, a lot of people in this world do not arrive to the same conclusion. They chose to believe “I think therefore I am.” Their existence depends on themselves and for themselves. They will do whatever it takes to accumulate wealth and well being for themselves, because, after all, this is the reason for their existence. As a result, their lives are under constant stress and worry. And they wonder why lives are full of so much fear and pain.

“Deliver me from the liars, GOD! They smile so sweetly but lie through their teeth” (Psalm 120:2). People submerged in a culture swarming with lies and malice feel like they are drowning in it; they can trust nothing they hear, depend on no one they meet. Such dissatisfaction with the world as it is as preparation for traveling in the way of Christian discipleship. The dissatisfaction, coupled with a longing for peace and truth, can set us on a pilgrim path of wholeness in God.

A person has to be thoroughly disgusted with the way things are to find the motivation to set out on the Christian way As long as we think that the next election might eliminate crime and establish justice or another scientific breakthrough might save the environment or another pay raise might push us over the edge of anxiety into a life of tranquility. We are not likely to risk the difficult uncertainties of the life of faith. A person has to get fed up with the ways of the world before he, or she, acquires an appetite for the world of grace.

Psalm 120 is the song of such a person, sick with the lies and crippled with the hate, a person doubled up in pain over what is going on in the world. But it is not a mere outcry, it is pain that penetrates through despair and stimulates a new beginning—a journey to God which becomes a life of peace.

Jesus assured His disciples that He will not leave them as orphan in the world, because the Holy Spirit will abide with them during their life journey. He promised, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). This is the undeserving GRACE that we receive from our merciful God, so that we can walk through our journey of faith with surpassing peace and joy. Our Lord continued to say, “I have told you these things (the Word of God), so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (16:33). Our inner peace is not a self-help or man-made psychological temporary tranquility. It is a super-natural peace that comes out from our union with the Holy Spirit from within. Our Lord desires to offer us His peace through our intimate relationship with Him. Do we want to build our security on the unreliable world or the unfailing love of God? Choose Him today!

Love you because of this Peace,
Lawrence