Where is your hiding place? In your car on a long drive? A dark morning hour with coffee? Maybe in a crowd, or in white noise? We crave safety from the womb, and never cease working for it. We spend all our time and money to build walls or tear down walls, all to find the same thing: Peace. Maybe you have forgotten, as I often do, these words that were spoken to the shepherds about Jesus: ‘… on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’ (Luke 2:14) Have you experienced this peace of God? Jesus came to favor you, and give you peace – now and forevermore. This is the story of the gospel, from the beginning to the end of all scripture – God's peace in places of quiet, and in spaces of noise. (Psalm 23:2; 42:7) God’s peace comes to and through you, as Spirit. Call on Jesus today, and be filled with peace. ‘Jesus said, ‘I am the door and whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.’’ John 10:9
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Forgiveness frees people. It frees you, and it’s how you free others. Think about that hurt you inflicted on that person – 10 minutes ago, or 20 years ago. You know the one. The one that makes your stomach turn, that throws a dark cloud over any day, any moment, when you think on it. Now can you imagine if that injured party decided deep in their soul to forgive you completely? No big meet-up, no big moment, no painful eye contact. Just a message across time and space that said to your soul, ‘You are completely forgiven!’ Forgiveness ‘frees’ people. Listen to me: there is a King of kings, who owns all people, all of time, all ‘justice’. This King has the authority and the power to forgive you completely today, even if that long, lost victim can never be found, or faced, or will not forgive you. This is more stunning than any sci-fi story, higher than any high and deeper than any depth. This forgiveness can make you new, set you free, and open the heavens to you again. ‘You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ (Matthew 1:21) |
AuthorPeter Walker. I hope you enjoy these reflections. Please feel free to comment!:) Archives
February 2024
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