“You May Have Peace” Part Five

This divine concern reaches into the temporal details of our lives. No child of God should ever become unduly anxious about the provision of his daily necessities. Jesus made this abundantly plain in His memorable Sermon on the Mount.

Pointing to the wildflowers blooming about Him, He said, “If God so clothe the grass of the field…shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?…for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:30-33).

What peace of mind we all would have if we followed this precious counsel! Of course, it does not mean that we should be slothful in our business arrangements, for indolence and improvidence are forbidden by other equally forceful passages of Scripture; but it does mean that we should cease from worrying so much about temporal matters and trust more confidently in the loving-kindness of God toward us.

To overburdened Martha, Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41, 42).

In so saying He did not mean to minimize the importance of home duties. He knew that such work has to be done. But He saw that Martha was more concerned with the housework that with God’s work. She was rushed and bothered because she thought she had no time to be with Jesus. Had she taken but a few moments to talk with Him, her soul would have been set at rest. It was a matter of putting first things first—and she had put them last.

Taking a little time now and thin to think about God and to talk with Hi is one of the surest ways of keeping your mind at peace.

If you know you are overwrought, nervous, quick-tempered, worried, it may well be because you are not praying enough. Communion with God is the most soul-calming force known. It will lift you out of the wild hurly-burly of a busy life into the serenity that surrounds His throne. It will correct your perspective and give events, people, and things their proper value. It will help you to realize that “the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Of course, it is easy to tell ourselves that there isn’t time to pray, what with the keen pace of modern life and radio, television, newspapers, and magazines, filling every vacant moment. Yet the more rushed life is, the more crowded our daily program, the more we need God. And if we would have His peace, we must find time to pray. Indeed, we must learn to bring all things to Him in prayer. As the apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6, R.S.V.)

With what result? “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (verse 7).

So, peace of mind is possible. God has made provision for it. It is one of the rich gifts of His love. You may have it if you want it. And you may have it now.

From “Your Bible and You”, by Arthur S. Maxwell, pg. 145-147

 

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“You May Have Peace” Part Four

Note: To get a better understanding, read “You May Have Peace” Part Three.

It could be, or course, that your present disquietude is due not to past sins but to present temptations. You are worried lest you may fall into some trap the enemy of all good is laying for you. But here again God has made provision for the dispelling of your fears.

“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation,” says the apostle Peter (2 Peter 2:9). He is right. God does know how to do it. As Jude says, He “is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (verse 24).

But, you say, maybe I shall sin again. Suppose you do. This will not take God by surprise. He has made provision for such a slip on your part. Should your conscience ever tell you that you have done something displeasing to Him, remember that you have “an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). He who died on Calvary for our redemption is now “even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:34).

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (verse 26).

So we have strong help in heaven. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who together form the Holy Trinity of love, are eager to help us in our struggle with sin. They yearn for our victory. All the angels, too, are dedicated to be “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:14).

There is nothing God is not willing to do to help those who have surrendered their lives to Him. With such ample assurances why worry so?

From “Your Bible and You”, by Arthur S. Maxwell, pgs. 143-145.

End of Part Four.

“You May Have Peace” Part Three

It may be that you feel that you have a proper reason for worrying. Perhaps you are thinking about some sin you committed years ago. You confessed it to God and asked His forgiveness, but you are convinced that He still holds it against you.

If so, you are suffering needlessly. If confessed and forsaken, your past sins should be dismissed from your mind. Your Bible says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). As a result “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

To every repentant sinner God says: “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee. Sing… shout,… break forth into singing” (Isaiah 44:22, 23).

He wants us to be glad and rejoice in the salvation He has provided for us. And if He has blotted out our sins, why should we continue to worry about them?

“As far as the east is from the west,” we are assured, “so far hath He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). And that is a long, long way. It is, in fact, an infinite distance, beyond human measurement.

“If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity,” He says through the prophet Ezekiel, “he shall surely live, he shall not die None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him” (Ezekiel 33: 15, 16).

“Who is a God like unto Thee,” exclaims the prophet Micah, “that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18, 19).

Only in recent years has the full wonder of this promise dawned upon human minds. For scientists have but lately discovered how deep the ocean really is. Parts of the Pacific are now known to go down more than seven miles. At that depth no wreck could ever be recovered nor could any diver each it. Under the enormous pressure it would be buried forever.

That is what God does with your sins, when you repent of them and ask His pardon. He casts them into the depths of the sea, eternally beyond reach, never to come to the surface again.

And if that is God’s intention, why worry about them any longer?

Why not leave them where He has put them and find rest for your soul in Him?

From “Your Bible and You”, by Arthur S. Maxwell, pgs. 141-143.

End Of Part Three

“You May Have Peace” Part Two

Your Bible says that God is a “God of peace” (Hebrews 13:20). Nothing ever disturbs Him. No earthborn storms invade the holy calm of His presence. He is always at peace. With perfect vision He sees the end from the beginning. In the working out of His plans and purposes there is neither haste nor delay.

Can you imagine God being anxious? Impossible! There is no problem to which He does not know the solution. Nor is there any difficulty so great but He knows the way out. “There is nothing too hard” for the Lord (Jeremiah 32:17).

The Son of God is called “The Prince Of Peace,” and it is said of Him that “of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end” (Isaiah 9:7). That is because He understands the secret of peace. Having dwelt with His Father from “the days of eternity” (Micah 5:2, margin), He knows, as no other being can ever know, what perfect peace is and how it is maintained.

When He came to this earth and lived as a man among men, one feature of His life that deeply impressed both His friends and enemies was His perfect poise. Harsh criticism left Him unmoved. Unkind words never made Him angry. Rejection left Him sad but not revengeful. Even on the cross He prayed for those who drove the nails through His hands and feet.

Again and again He invited the weary, worried people who followed Him to share His placidity of spirit. “Come unto Me,” He said to them with loving sympathy and understanding. “Come and learn My secret.” “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

The farmers who heard Him say these words understood them perfectly. They knew that a “yoke” joins the animals who pull the plow. So to them this was an invitation to share their troubles and care with Him. It was an offer to carry the heaviest part of their load.

Many accepted this “yoke” and felt their burdens vanish. Tired mothers, anxious fathers, found peace in Jesus. They learned to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. See Psalm 37:7. They began to understood what the psalmist meant when he said, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee” (Psalm 55:22).

Especially concerned that His disciples discover the secret of peace, Jesus said to them again and again, in various ways, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). He was not afraid of the future Himself, even though He knew it would lead Him to Calvary, and He wanted them to share the peace that filled His soul. “Peace I leave with you,” He said to them, “My peace I give unto you” (John 14:27).

A little later they were disturbed again, this time by His statement that He was soon going back to His Father in heaven. So He added: “These things I have spoken unto you that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

They had no need to worry. His overcoming of the world, the flesh, and the devil, made certain the ultimate triumph of righteousness. His victory was theirs. They would share its glorious results with Him through all eternity.

So no tribulation or disappointment should ruffle our peace of mind or weaken our reliance upon the promises of God.

From “Your Bible and You”, by Arthur S. Maxwell, pgs. 138-141.

End Of Part Two

“You May Have Peace” Part One

The more you study your Bible the more clearly you will see how much it has to say about your life. It is full of good counsel as to how you can make the most of it. Obviously its Arthur is deeply concerned for your welfare and is anxious that you shall be happy, contented, cheerful, and a source of spiritual strength to your family and community.

Take, for instance, the subject of peace o mind, which has become so very important to multitudes in these trying times. While millions of nervously upset people visit psychiatrists and spend fortunes on tranquilizers, your Bible offers a most reasonable and inexpensive remedy.

All too many nowadays chain smoke “to sooth their nerves,” then drink stimulants to spur themselves on to do their work. But the peace they seek eludes them. They are never really at rest, never truly happy. Such living is a poor substitute for the good way of life revealed in that wonderful Book of yours.

True, your Bible states that “there is no peace… to the wicked” (Isaiah 26:3).

There is a reason for this, and it is given in the same beautiful passage:

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is the rock of ages” (verses 3, 4, margin).

Peace is to be found in God because He is more durable than the mountains. With Him there is stability and permanence that invite the fullest confidence. He is ever the same, unaffected by forces that work changes in others. The passing of time brings no alteration to His person or His character. He endures “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 90:1, 2). Forever and ever all power in heaven and earth belongs to Him (Matthew 28:18).

How restful it is to trust in a God such as this–to have a Friend who never changes, whose love will never die! The very thought suffuses the soul with delicious tranquility. As the old hymn says:

“Unlike our friends by nature,

Who change with changing years,

This Friend is always worthy

The precious name He bears.”

There will never come a time when God’s love for His children will lessen. There will never be an occasion when he will cease to hear their petitions and supply their needs. Always He will be to them a tower of strength, a sure refuge. His wisdom will be to them a tower of strength, a sure refuge. His wisdom and power will ever be available to assist them in every emergency.

That is why peace of mind is to be found through trusting Him. With such a wonderful Friend ever thinking of us, ever caring for us, there can never be any need to worry.

From “Your Bible and You”, by Arthur S. Maxwell, pgs. 135-138.

End Of Part One