The Peace of God's Word

I snapped this picture last fall when I visited the island of Santorini in Greece.  What a serene moment it was.  The weather was gorgeous, I was sitting on a restaurant veranda with friends, enjoying a sunset dinner.  Almost felt like I had no cares in the world.

Fast forward five months up to now.  The world is in an uproar, working to stave off a viral pandemic.  So much uncertainty. 

In the final days of Jesus' life and ministry on earth, He spoke words of peace to His disciples.  And He did so in a way that brings great solace to us today.  He said in John 14:25-27... “All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  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."

Jesus said these words because He knew the disciples would be tempted to fear and worry about their uncertain future.  We are tempted in the same way today.  The future is uncertain.  But the promise from Jesus is quite real:  He will use the Holy Spirit to remind us of Jesus' words, which include this promise of peace.

Jesus' words (aka God's words) in the Bible are eternal.  They are special.  God's voice to us is loudest and clearest when we read His Written Word.  So, during this chaotic and fear-filled time, let's keep going back to Jesus' words:  "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."  

It's somewhat popular right now in various Christian circles to expect to "Hear a special word from the Lord," or "See a picture from the Lord," or "Experience God's chatterbox voice."  Be careful with these vague teachings.  They may lead to emotionalism and false spiritual expectations.  God's voice is most clearly heard in His Word.  And what He has clearly told us, and what the Holy Spirit clearly reminds us of in His leading, is WHAT HE HAS ALREADY SAID IN HIS WORD, THE BIBLE.

For our present need of peace, His Word is clear: 
Hebrews 13:5... “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Psalm 23:4...  "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
Psalm 118:6... "The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Change

Change is hard.  There are a lot of changes happening this week with the attempts to forestall the spread of the Coronavirus.  Almost every large gathering is being cancelled.  Schools are being cancelled.  Entertainment events, sports events, meetings, even work-related gatherings.  It's truly March Madness.  And March Madness is cancelled!  How dare they.  Our lives are in fruit basket upset.  Change is hard.

I like this picture I took last summer at the Oregon Coast.  It's taken from Cape Arago State Park.  One of the reasons we like to hike the Oregon Coast so much, I think, is that in some respects the coast never changes.  The ocean waves keep coming.  The sand is always there.  Of course, there is always the beautiful changes of the seasons and the changing landscape over time, but the constancy of the waves keeps bringing us back.

In the same way, God never changes.  In the midst of difficult change, God remains the same.  We can count on His constancy.  Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."  All praise to Him!  Malachi 3:6 says, "For I, the Lord, do not change."  All praise to Him!  Psalm 102:27 says, "But You remain the same and your years will never end."  All praise to Him!  In theology we call this the immutability of God.  He is unchanging.

As I think about all the changes happening this week, I pray for all of us.  I'm asking God to help us not be worried or anxious or discouraged.  It will sneak up on you.  Just when you think you're doing fine, suddenly one more change will kind of push you over the edge into fear.  We tend to like routine; or at least we find comfort in routine.  So when the routine of our lives is disrupted, our peace slips away into fret.

Of course, the changes in church right now tempt me to worry.  I hate the idea of not gathering together on Sunday.  The decision to do that was the hardest decision we've had to make in our church plans in years.  And the uncertainty of the next few weeks and months will continue to tempt me to worry.  And not because I am fearful about getting the Coronavirus.  Not at all.  But rather, the worry of how this will affect the wonderful routines of our church. 

So, the temptation to worry is present.  You cannot deny it.  But we go to a deeper place with our faith.  We go to the deep places of God in His Word.  We listen to the voice of God by meeting Him in His Word, the Bible.  This is our solid Rock in the midst of change.

I love the words of James 1:17... "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."  Not only is God immutable, but because of His immutability He will always bless us with His good and perfect gifts.  All praise to Him!

So, what changes are happening in your life?  Leave a comment if you feel so moved. 

Peacefulness

If you want to hear God's voice, read His Word.  If you want to hear God's voice out loud, read His Word out loud.  Today I take solace in knowing that Jesus is my PRINCE OF PEACE in the midst of this world's chaos.  I find that solace by meeting with God in His Word.  What are your favorite passage about peacefulness in the Bible?

John 14:27... "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."

Joshua 1:9... "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Psalm 94:19... "When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul."

Psalm 27:1...  "The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?"

2 Timothy 1:7... "For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

My Favorite Activity in 2019

Kahori asked me yesterday what some of my favorite activities and events were from 2019.  We talked a lot about the trips we had taken, about family times together, and about significant growth points in church. But this morning I’m reminded that my favorite activity this year has been my daily meeting with God in His Word.

One of my goals each year is to read through the Bible.  Every day includes a chapter or two from the Old Testament, a chapter from the Psalms, and a chapter from the New Testament.  Almost without fail, something sticks out to me after reading the three chapters.  There’s usually something that hits me as significant for the day.  Plus, when I read God’s Word, it reminds me of who’s in charge of my day and who I can depend on.  God is watching over me and loves me.

Psalm 119:1-2 says,  “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.”  This year I want to be blessed more, so I will continue the habit of going to God’s Word and accepting His love and following His ways.

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  If that’s true, and I believe it is, then God’s Word is alive for me today.  God speaks to me through my reading.  God’s “voice” is loudest when I read His words that He already wrote to me.

Today I read the last chapter of Revelation, chapter 22.  I was reminded of Jesus’ love for me and that one day He will return for me and take me to Heaven.  “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” (22:12-14).  Jesus has “washed my robe” and prepared me for heaven by forgiving my sins by His grace.  Thank you Lord!  I look forward to reading your Word in this coming year as I anticipate your quick return.
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Perseverance Brings Joy

This Christmas break we took our family up to the mountains for some snow hiking. (Ray Benson Sno-Park on the Santiam pass).  It was a great day!  The snow was fresh and powdery, the weather was good, and, of course, having the family together was wonderful.  We even sat on a snow covered log and ate our lunch!  (Eating lunch on our hikes is an Elmer family tradition.)

But as I think back and ponder our wonderful snow hiking day, I realize that it didn't come easy.  We planned ahead for the date, communicated with each other for ideas, packed a lunch, got out the snow clothes, rented the snowshoes, and then drove 2 hours each way to make it happen.  It was a lot of work, actually.  We didn't think about it as work.  It was all a delightful adventure.  Nevertheless, it took perseverance.  In fact, on the drive up the mountain we thought we could find snow lower down on the mountain, and hence, a shorter drive.  But such was not the case.  We had to drive all the way up to the summit to find enough snow.  So, at one point, I was tempted to complain about how far the drive was.  But I persevered and didn't complain, even though I felt like it.  (We don't have to behave like we feel!, one of my mentors would always say.)  So when we got out into the snow I gladly declared, "It was worth the drive!"

Many things in life are like that... they take perseverance.  In fact, most things that we enjoy take some form of investment, sacrifice and perseverance.  Whether it's family events, career accomplishments, or even ministry at church... the greatest achievements usually involve staying the course.

The Bible reminds us about this value in many places:

James 1:2-4...  "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Romans 5:2-4... "...we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

James 1:12... "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."

Proverbs 24:16... "For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity."

In the coming year, 2020, I want to persevere MORE than I did in 2019.  I want my life to count for God and for Heaven more than it did last year.  I'm praying already that God will give me His strength by the power of the Holy Spirit, to follow Him with intense love and faithfulness.

Loneliness

I really missed having my wife around when she traveled to Mexico recently with our churches mission team.  She was gone for 10 days.  I was lonely!  With the kids grown and gone, we already feel like our home is so much quieter these days.  But with Kahori gone, too, it was disastrously void of life.  So I went to work keeping myself busy.  I worked in the yard.  I cleaned the house.  I organized the closet.  It was nice in a way, to have total control of my surroundings.  (The house stays much cleaner when you're the only one to blame for the mess.)

But it was a lonely, clean house.

The only good thing about her absence was that I was reminded of some very important realities.  First, I was reminded of how important my wife is in my life.  By God's design, she fulfills me and meets my needs, as I do hers.  She is "the rest of me."  Without her I am not fully me.  We are one, in Christ.  So, as the days of separation wore on, the words in my texts to her became deeper and richer in meaning... because my realization of her goodness became deeper and richer.  (Absence does make the heart grow fonder!)

Secondly, I now have a greater appreciation for the effect my absences might have upon her.  Usually it's me leaving her alone when I travel.  Now, I am much more concerned for the future times that I will be gone... leaving her at home in a lonely space.  Maybe this will help me find ways to help her through those times, and give me better words to say when I'm gone.

Another, even greater, reality that I contemplated through and since her absence has been my utter dependence on our loving Lord.  "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1).  When people aren't around or people fail me, God is always there.  God is my first and greatest companion.  He is my all in all.  "I will always be with you" (Joshua 1:5) God says hundreds of times in the Bible.  I love the words of Psalm 68:5-6... "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing..."  This is good news for everyone.

I'm not the only one who gets lonely!

There are countless numbers of lonely people in our culture.  People sitting alone in their homes, widows, divorcees, singles, kids whose parents are too busy, teenagers that don't seem to fit into the social circles at school, forgotten elderly in assisted care homes, discouraged spouses who are lonely within the broken confines of their marriages.

There is loneliness everywhere; oftentimes hidden, oftentimes masked.  America values independence, but one great unintended consequence of our freedom-loving, rights-based, independent culture is desperate loneliness.

When Psalm 68:6 says, as mentioned above, that "God sets the lonely in families," I fear that people may think that's a false promise.  Those who don't have family around... or those whose family members aren't always filled with love.  Where is God in the midst of MY loneliness?, they may wonder.  That's an understandable question.  But it also has an answer.

God has purposed to put us into spiritual families.  The Apostle Paul wrote to a group of people who had faith in God in the book of Ephesians in the Bible.  He said, "You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household..."  He was reminding them that within their local gathering of believers, there is place and belonging.  God's local expressions of His church are very important.  When God says that He will put the lonely into families, it's not always our blood relatives.  Sometimes it's our church family... our spiritual family.

Did you ever wonder when you were sitting in church on Sunday, "Who here is lonely?"  Or maybe, "Who here is lonely like I am?"  There is nothing to be ashamed of when you are lonely.  Everyone is lonely at some point.  This broken, sinful world frequently causes loneliness.

But, the adult, mature thing to do when you are lonely is admit it to yourself, admit it to God and then begin to do something about it.  And the best thing you can do is accept God's offer of a spiritual family and go be with a group of people at a church.  Will those people be perfect?  No.  Will they immediately fill your need for companionship and friendship?  It may take a little while.  But at our church we work hard at helping people fit in and find a place of belonging and friendship and purpose.

I believe God cares deeply about us and knows our intimate needs for love and companionship.  In fact, He has given Himself to this world to show us how much He loves us (John 3:16).  Jesus even said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)

I'm so glad God loves me through my loneliness when others aren't around.  AND, I'm so glad my church family is God's haven of loving friendship for me in this broken world.

Unity in Jesus

I'm so thankful this week for the unity we have in our church.  Each morning we've offered a simple Soccer Camp to kids from many different backgrounds.  Some of the kids are from our church, some from the neighborhood, some from the Hispanic families that our Hispanic pastor has been reaching out to.  Each morning we welcome every single one of those kids in the love of Christ.  It doesn't matter what their background is.  Jesus loves them all.  At mid-morning, we stop playing soccer and come into the gym for a rest, some snacks, and a short message on the love of Christ.  Many of the kids have invited Jesus into their hearts for the first time.  And what has really blessed my heart is how natural the intercultural outreach is for our church.  We are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).  With all the division and hatred in the world today, it's so nice to be a part of a group of people that just focuses on seeing people like God sees them... as eternal beings that are invited to live with God forever in heaven. 

Plus, I'm seeing so many people of our church volunteering their time to show Christ's love.  As a pastor, I'm really proud of them.  Children's Director McKenzie O'Neil and Hispanic Pastor Sorin Crivceag have worked hard to plan this event and ask volunteers to help.  Everyone is working together so well!  Another show of unity in Jesus.

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus."  Romans 15:5