Reflecting God - "Embrace Holy Living" of The Global Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Tuesday, 17 February 2015 Scripture: Isaiah 26:1 On that day this song will be sung
in the land of Y’hudah:
“We have a strong city!
He has built walls and ramparts for our safety.
2 Open the gates! Let the righteous nation enter,
a nation that keeps faith!
3 “A person whose desire rests on you
you preserve in perfect peace,
because he trusts in you.
4 Trust in Adonai forever,
because in Yah Adonai,
is a Rock of Ages.”
5 For he has humbled those in high places,
levelling the lofty city,
levelling it to the ground,
laying it in the dust.
6 It is trampled underfoot by the feet of the poor,
by the footsteps of the needy.
7 The way of the righteous is level;
Righteous One, you smooth the path for the righteous.
8 Following the way of your judgments,
we put our hope in you.
The desire of all our soul
is to remember you and your name.
9 My soul desires you at night,
my spirit in me seeks you at dawn;
for when your judgments are here on earth,
the people in the world learn what righteousness is.
10 Even if pity is shown to the wicked,
he still doesn’t learn what righteousness is.
In a land of uprightness he will still act wrongly
and fail to see the majesty of Adonai.
11 Adonai, you raised your hand,
but they still didn’t see.
Yet with shame they will see your zeal for the people.
Yes, fire will destroy your enemies.
RG AUDIO 021715"More Than Escaping" by Author: John Juneman
The choir sang these beautiful words from Isaiah 26:3 as the benediction to every Sunday morning service: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee (Isaiah 26:3, KJV).” As a teenager who had begun attending the church, I knew little about the peace of which they sang. For me, peace equaled freedom from troubles. Yet, the peace which is promised in Isaiah 26:3, and throughout God’s Word, is far more than an escape from troubles.
The Hebrew word translated “stayed” or “steadfast” has the literal meaning of resting, laying, or leaning upon. The peace of God can rule in our hearts and create an environment of resting in Him in the midst of any conflict or difficulty. Furthermore, the Hebrew word shalom, “peace,” is used twice in the verse. It conveys the idea of perfect peace, or even of double peace. This brings us back again to dependency upon “the Lord of peace himself” (see 2 Thessalonians 3:16).
We cannot produce or keep peace ourselves. Instead of seeking for freedom from troubles, why not be thankful and just lean upon Him.
Hymn for Today: "Peace, Sweet Peace"
1. There comes to my heart one sweet strain,
A glad and a joyous refrain,
I sing it again and again,
Sweet peace, the gift of God's love.
Refrain:
Peace, peace, sweet peace,
Wonderful gift from above;
O wonderful, wonderful peace,
Sweet peace, the gift of God's love.
2. By Christ on the cross peace was made,
My debt by His death was all paid,
No other foundation is laid
For peace, the gift of God's love.
Refrain:
Peace, peace, sweet peace,
Wonderful gift from above;
O wonderful, wonderful peace,
Sweet peace, the gift of God's love.
3. When Jesus as Lord I had crowned,
My heart with this peace did abound;
In Him the rich blessing I found,
Sweet peace, the gift of God's love.
Refrain:
Peace, peace, sweet peace,
Wonderful gift from above;
O wonderful, wonderful peace,
Sweet peace, the gift of God's love.
4. In Jesus for peace I abide,
And as I keep close to His side,
There's nothing but peace doth betide,
Sweet peace, the gift of God's love.
Refrain:
Peace, peace, sweet peace,
Wonderful gift from above;
O wonderful, wonderful peace,
Sweet peace, the gift of God's love.
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