Joy – Praying Pint

46.d. “Wilderness” – 10.j. “Why are you cast down, O my soul”

Num 6:26  the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Psalms 42:5    Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation

Psalms 89:15    Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,

Acts 2:28     You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

Psalms 29:11    May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!

Isaiah 26:3    You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Isaiah 26:12    O LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.

Luke 2:14   “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

John 14:27     Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Romans 15:13   May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 15:33    May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Philippians 4:7     And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

And the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee,…. Show his face and favour, look cheerfully on his people, declare himself well pleased with them in Christ, and appear as smiling upon them through him, indulging them with visits of love, restoring to them the joys of his salvation, and upholding them with his free Spirit; and so causing them to walk pleasantly and comfortably in the ways of God, expecting eternal life and happiness, as God’s free gift through Christ: and give thee peace; all outward needful prosperity, internal peace of mind, through the blood and righteousness of Christ, the peacemaker, and peace giver, and eternal peace in the world to come. (Gill)

Implying more personal and individual attention from the Lord. His face shines upon all that love him, as the sun shines wherever no clouds intervene; but his face is lifted up to that soul for which he has a more special regard. To lift up the eyes or the face upon any one is to look upon that one with peculiar and tender interest. This peace, being the perfect fruit in experience of the grace which comes from God. (Unknown)

There is a lot in this world and in our lives that can and, at times, rob us of peace. News and media outlets are full of peace-zapping articles. The worse they can make it seem seems to be their purpose. I truly wonder what a person’s life would be like if they shut off their TV and no longer filled their minds with the fear, anger, lies, and half-truths being proclaimed. There is little to no benefit from watching or knowing it. You are being fed what they want you to think, feel, and blame. There is no peace in this.

Other times there is life itself that has a way of creeping in and zapping our faith. Accidents, finances, physical health, relationships, marriage, and even past memories all can find roots to establish a means of robbing us of peace. No one is immune to it, it comes to all of us at various times throughout our lives. Some of these are attacks by Satan but certainly more of them happen in life because of sin in the world. However, we are not of this world. This is not our home. Our home is in heaven with our heavenly father where there will be no more sickness, death, pain, or suffering.

What is a person to do when they find peace is absent? I find no other cure than to dig into God’s promises.

“I am with you”

“I will never leave you”

“I am your refuge”

“I am your strength”

“I will guide you”

“My peace I give to you”

“I will send a Helper (the Holy Spirit)”

“I can do more than you as or can imagine”

“I will give you peace that passes all understanding”

“I know your coming and going”

“I have plans for you”

“Believe and trust in Me”

When you find yourself in a mental state where peace is nowhere to be found, go to a quiet place and focus your mind on Jesus Christ and His promises. He will fill your heart and mind with peace and give you rest.

39.j. “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 55:12   “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace;

John 14:1   “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

John 14:27     Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Romans 5:5   and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Joel 3:16    The LORD roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the LORD is a refuge to his people

Thanks to technology, we see the joy and celebrations of life that occur all over the world, but we also see the heartbreak and despair. It is easy to be discouraged and disheartened by what we hear and see and experience. Wars, weather-related disasters, drought, famine, earthquakes, and not to mention cultural and societal moral decline. Abortion is defined as reproductive rights. Homosexuality and transgenderism is honored, celebrated, and promoted as an alternative lifestyle. Attempts to ban Christianity from schools and government are common. Open hatred for God and things of God are common. How is a person to make sense of what is going on? Where is a person to find HOPE?

We have an anchor and it doesn’t matter how hard the storms or currents rage. God is all-powerful and all-knowing and ever-present. As disheartening and troublesome as life can be at times, HOPE in God never disappoints. Though our journey through trials may seem long and unbearable, hope in God gives us a peace that passes all understanding.

Do not despair, worry, or fear what is going on in the world but rather keep your eyes focused on Jesus Christ and the word of God. There is nothing in this world that can remove the joy from a heart and mind that is fixed on Jesus Christ.

37.q. “With joy and a merry heart”

Genesis 29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.

Psalms 119:32 I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!

Ecclesiastes 9:7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.

Confirmed in the possession of the birthright by God as well as man, and encouraged by the promise of the Divine presence, and of a safe return home, he casts no wistful glances back, but pursues his journey under the inspiriting influence of hope. (Ellicott)

Jacob proceeded cheerfully in his journey, after the sweet communion he had with God at Beth-el. Providence brought him to the field where his uncle’s flocks were to be watered. (Henry)

Then Jacob went on his journey,…. After the above vow at Bethel, and having had some intimation that what he desired would be granted him; which not only shows that he walked afoot, but that he went on his journey with great cheerfulness; for having such gracious promises made him, that God would be with him, and keep him, and supply him with all necessaries. (Gill)

Jacob went on his journey with gladness. He had an encounter with God and believed in the promise given to him by God. What an example of how children of God’s great promises should walk through life. Think about the promises of forgiveness, salvation, redemption, eternal life, in-filling, and in-dwelling Holy Spirit, and the promises to never leave or forsake us, guide us, be our strength, shield, and refuge. Should not our walk be filled with gladness? What is it then that takes this joy and gladness of heart away? Is it possible that our eyes are on things of this world and what it has to offer and not on the promises of God? The great hymn put it this way; “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full into His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace”.

34.r. “In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress”

Matthew 27:3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”

Job 20:5 that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?

Job 20:15-29 He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly. He will suck the poison of cobras; the tongue of a viper will kill him. He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds. He will give back the fruit of his toil and will not swallow it down; from the profit of his trading he will get no enjoyment. For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build. “Because he knew no contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him. There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his prosperity will not endure. In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress; the hand of everyone in misery will come against him. To fill his belly to the full, God will send his burning anger against him and rain it upon him into his body. He will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike him through. It is drawn forth and comes out of his body; the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder; terrors come upon him. Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; what is left in his tent will be consumed. The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him. The possessions of his house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God’s wrath. This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God.”

The hypocrisy of the chief priests was transparent. “Tempters never make good comforters. Those who are the devil’s instruments, to command, entice, or allure men to sin, will afford them no relief when they have come to be troubled for what they have done.” (Poole)

Thus perished Judas Iscariot the traitor, a miserable example of the fatal influence of covetousness, and a standing monument of the divine vengeance, proper to deter future generations from acting contrary to conscience, through the love of the world. (Benson)

A guilty conscience and deep remorse result from actions taken and then having a glimpse of reality, a searing red hot iron of truth pressed hard onto the flesh of that person’s heart, mind, and soul. Judas, being seared with the knowledge and understanding of what Hell must be like, found no escape from it. There was no will to live with that torment and trying to escape it by killing himself seemed the only option. The peace he longed for deep in his soul by being released from the torment led him to this act. What Judas didn’t realize was he was headed from this earthly torment into eternal torment in Hell. There is no escape from this destiny without repentance and trust in Jesus Christ. Though a person may be remorseful, sorry, and filled with regret it will never bring about forgiveness, redemption, or salvation of their soul. Our conscience may be seared with the truth of our sin actions to cause us to be remorseful, sorry, and regretful but these ought to lead us to repentance and Jesus Christ.

Judas never repented, never sought repentance, never sought forgiveness, and tried to relieve the pain of the truth of his sin by giving back the 30 pieces of silver. In essence, he was trying to buy his pardon by self-reliance and atonement for what he had done. How many times do we go through life thinking we can do more good things to make up for bad things we have done, thought, or said? It is as if we keep a ledger book of our good and bad and try to make a good balance out just a little bit better. Do we think this makes us more right with God? Do we believe we are more worthy of forgiveness by doing good acts to offset the bad?

There is nothing a person can do in and of themselves that will give them the peace of forgiveness. It is only trusting in Jesus Christ alone. Confessing it, repenting of it, and relying on His great love, mercy, and grace. We cannot cover any sin by being good enough. “It is by the grace of God we are saved, not by works lest any man should boast” We cannot do acts of kindness that make us worthy of God’s love, grace, and mercy. It is only by His love that we are redeemed through His Son. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son”

Being remorseful, regretful, and sorry for some act we have done or thought ought to lead us to repentance and trust in Jesus alone, for He alone is the one who can forgive.

34.m. “‘Well done, good and faithful servant”

Matthew 25:14 For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Christ keeps no servants to be idle: they have received their all from him, and have nothing they can call their own but sin. Our receiving from Christ is in order to our working for him. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. The day of account comes at last. We must all be reckoned with as to what good we have got to our own souls, and have done to others, by the advantages we have enjoyed. It is not meant that the improving of natural powers can entitle a man to Divine grace. It is the real Christian’s liberty and privilege to be employed as his Redeemer’s servant, in promoting his glory, and the good of his people: the love of Christ constrains him to live no longer to himself, but to Him that died for him, and rose again. Those who think it impossible to please God, and in vain to serve him, will do nothing to purpose in religion. They complain that He requires of them more than they are capable of, and punishes them for what they cannot help. Whatever they may pretend, the fact is, they dislike the character and work of the Lord. The slothful servant is sentenced to be deprived of his talent. This may be applied to the blessings of this life; but rather to the means of grace. Those who know not the day of their visitation, shall have the things that belong to their peace hid from their eyes. His doom is, to be cast into outer darkness. It is a usual way of expressing the miseries of the damned in hell. Here, as in what was said to the faithful servants, our Saviour goes out of the parable into the thing intended by it, and this serves as a key to the whole. Let us not envy sinners, or covet any of their perishing possessions. (Henry)

The manifestation of the grace of God in believers is for the single purpose of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ. Though this manifestation might be in the form of helping others, giving, kindness, generosity, serving, proclaiming the Gospel, works of the hands, or wisdom of the mind they are all singularly for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. Any intent we have to keep some of this glory for ourselves robs its intended glory and honor from Jesus Christ. From Him, the talents are given and to Him, they belong with all their accumulated interest.

Pray that God would open your eyes and ears to your heart, mind, and soul to the talents He has given to you, and then be a workman that uses these talents for His honor and glory. Anything kept for our own glory and honor is stealing from the King of Kings.

34.w. “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.”

Matthew 22:29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.

Job 19:25-27    For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,  whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.

Psalms 16:9-11    Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.  For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.  You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Isaiah 26:19    Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.

Jeremiah 32:17    ‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

Genesis 18:14    Is anything too hard for the LORD?

Acts 26:8    Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

Mark 12:27   He is not God of the dead, but of the living.

In this world, death takes away one after another, and so ends all earthly hopes, joys, sorrows, and connections. How wretched are those who look for nothing better beyond the grave! If a person does not understand scripture they will not understand even less of faith in the Power of God. It is possible for a person to have much Bible knowledge, yet not fundamentally know the Scriptures. The Sadducees denied supernatural truths such as the existence of angelic beings and the bodily resurrection. They had a fundamental doubt about the power of God to do beyond what they could measure and understand in the material world; many today are like the Sadducees in this respect.

“If you knew the power of God, you would know that God is able to raise the dead…If you knew the Scriptures, you would know that God will raise the dead.” (Poole)

Know this, God will raise the dead, some to eternal life and some to eternal torment. To know Jesus Christ and have a relationship with Him, having faith in Him, relying on Him, trusting Him, following Him, obeying Him, is much different than knowing of Him and putting your trust in the knowledge of Him rather than knowing Him. Resurrection from the dead will happen just as eternal judgment will happen. Having a knowing relationship with Jesus Christ assures the promise of eternal life just as not knowing or having a relationship with Him promises eternal torment. A person intentionally chooses to have this trusting and reliant relationship with Jesus or not. This choice will result in your eternal destiny. Every person is without excuse for the whole and entire Word of God proclaims this from beginning to end.

34.b. “Do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.”

Matthew 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Psalms 51:10-13   Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.  Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

Acts 3:19   Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

Acts 28:27    For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

1 Corinthians 14:20     Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

Psalms 131:1-2   O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.  But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Isaiah 57:15    For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Luke 14:11     For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

James 4:10     Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

I have much to say about humbleness, repentance, belief, grace, mercy, etc… However, as your read these Scriptures of God’s Word, let the Holy Spirit guide your thoughts accordingly for they are full of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the Holiness of God and the lowliness of man. For with the right heart and mind, these Words of God will speak into your life.

33. “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”

Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Proverbs 2:2-5     making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;  yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

Romans 15:4     For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Proverbs 17:16     Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?

Philippians 3:7-9   But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

Revelation 3:18     I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

In the first parable, the field is the world and the treasure is each and every believer to come. Jesus gave everything to redeem the whole world to preserve the treasure in it – Those who would believe, trust, honor, follow, and obey Him.

In the second parable, Jesus is the buyer for the kingdom of heaven and the pearl is the individual believer that He sees so valuable that He freely and happily would give His all to have them forever. (Guzik)

Scripture is also clear on the responsibility of all mankind to likewise search, seek, and desire God like a great treasure of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, gold, silver, and bread and water to a starving and thirsty soul. The world and its troubles and pleasures can and do have an influence on the hearts of people. It can blind their eyes and deafen their ears to things of God. When God and things of God get pushed down and buried under the things of this world there is still hope for the person who at their depth of despair would humble themselves and call on God. He is ever calling out to the lost who have wondered aimlessly apart from truth, hope, and faith in Him. To some, it is if this treasure of God is deemed worthless and even when they see it they cast it aside. To others, it is such great worth that they willingly and intentionally choose it above all things this world has to offer. They humbly surrender selfish desire and hope to gain eternity in heaven. They gladly discard the promises this world has to offer to gain joy, peace, rest, refuge, power, strength, courage, hope, faith, and love that only God can give.

31.i. “Keep your life free from love of money”

Matthew 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Psalms 39:6    Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

1 John 2:15-16   Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Proverbs 11:4   Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

James 5:1-3   Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.  Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.

Proverbs 23:5   When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.

Ecclesiastes 2:26    For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-14    He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

Zephaniah 1:18    Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the LORD

Hebrews 13:5    Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The idea is that earthly treasure is temporary and fading away (where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal), but heavenly treasure is secure. The issue isn’t that earthly treasures are intrinsically bad, but they are of no ultimate value either. If this is the case, then it is wrong for the disciple of Jesus to dedicate his life to continually expanding his earthly treasures.

“The Master does not say it is wrong to possess earthly treasure. He does say it is wrong to lay it up for self. We are to hold it as stewards.” (Morgan)

To lay up for yourselves treasure on earth is also to doom yourself to a life of frustration and emptiness. Regarding material things the secret to happiness is not more, it is contentment. How many wealthy people have died at their own hands because they found no pleasure from the wealth of what they accumulated? There is no lasting satisfaction from wealth. It is here today and gone tomorrow, or we are. In contrast, heavenly treasures are everlasting and incorruptible. Treasures in heaven give enjoyment now, in the contentment and sense of well-being that comes from being a giver. But their ultimate enjoyment comes on the other side of eternity. It has been wisely observed that a moving truck full of possessions never follows a hearse. Everything one might take with them to the world beyond is left behind and we can use our material resources right now for eternal good – even though we can’t bring them with us. Our material treasures will not pass from this life to the next, but the good that has been done for the kingdom of God through the use of our treasures lasts for eternity, and the work God does in us through faithful giving will last for eternity. (Guzik)

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”

30.v. “I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,”

Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Psalms 120:6  Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace.

Romans 12:18    If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

James 3:16-18   For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Romans 14:19    So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Hebrews 12:14   Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

2 Timothy 2:22-24   So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.  Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.  And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,

Galatians 5:22   But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

James 1:19-20    Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

Ephesians 4:1    I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

“The verse which precedes it speaks of the blessedness of ‘the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’ It is well that we should understand this. We are to be ‘first pure, then peaceable.’ Our peaceableness is never to be a compact with sin, or an alliance with that which is evil. We must set our faces like flints against everything which is contrary to God and his holiness. That being in our souls a settled matter, we can go on to peaceableness towards men.” (Spurgeon)

We commonly think of this peacemaking work as being the job of one person who stands between two fighting parties. This may be one way this is fulfilled; but one can also end a conflict and be a peacemaker when they are party to a conflict; when they are the offended or the offender. (Guzik)

We will always have the opportunity to offer peace. It can be an encouragement to be peaceful to someone who has been offended, hurt, chided, etc….. and is not at peace about it. Our encouragement might be to help them see it from another view. It might be to just let them know we understand and encourage them to be peaceable in their situation for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. Last year I watched unrestrained riots, looting, and destruction. Those in the leadership of these cities, in the guise of trying to bring peace, tried to defend allowing these actions to go unchecked or stopped. This by all means is not being a peacemaker. It is weakness and cowardly. This same mindset would allow a person to be raped if the offender seemed to have a reason for their offense. Utter foolish thinking and leadership. Being a peacemaker may mean we will have to jump in and restrain during an offense. Protecting the weak or outnumbered or overpowered is also being a peacemaker.

Discernment is critical. When you hear what is proclaimed through social media and other media news outlets on their take on what brings peace, rest assured they are basing it on false worldly ideas that run contrary to Scripture. Peace is never obtained by divisiveness. What they are proclaiming may make worldly sense and may even sound like it could be right. This is why it is critical to have God’s Word in your life, written on your heart, mind, and soul. How else will you be able to discern worldly from godly? When there is no acknowledgment of God, Jesus Christ, and Scripture, people will do what seems right in their own eyes. Be a workman of God who is able to rightly divide the Word of Truth from worldly passions and ideas from what is right and wrong. Peacemakers must be rooted firmly in Jesus Christ, and continually learn more and more understanding and knowledge from God’s Word, with a desire to learn and apply it. Discernment will not come to those who are not seeking it.