Scripture:
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world. - John 16:33
Devotional comments:
Jesus spoke of hard truths that most could not accept. The concept of turning the other cheek did not sit well with people who for two millennium had lived with the concept of “an eye for an eye.”
The religious leaders did not understand his message or his purposes and because of that they accused him of being the messenger of Belial and Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24). It seems that they had been blinded to the good he did and they could not even see that in every way he fulfilled the prophesies that had been given hundreds of years earlier that spoke of a Messiah that was to come.
While the religious leaders rejected him and his messianic message of a new kingdom, the common people heard him and readily accepted the hope that he gave them. Though he was speaking to the leaders in Luke 4, his message was to the common people. His message was that he had come to relieve poverty, heal broken bodies, restore broken relationships and set people free of emotional and behavioral bondage (Luke 4:17-19).
The primary thing that the religious leaders of Jesus day did not see was that everything Jesus said and did was from the motivation of love and the purpose of establishing the peace of God in the hearts of men. In his last word to the disciples he summed up his entire ministry with these words; “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world.”
The hope that produces peace in us is this: because he has overcome the world we know that we can also overcome the world. It is our hope in Christ that gives us lasting peace.
Prayer: Lord, I know that on my own I cannot overcome the world but I trust what you have said. Grant me the grace to overcome the world as you have overcome the world. In Jesus Name, amen.
Peace That Overcomes The World
Principle: The world system seeks peace through domination but Jesus brought peace through serving.
Affirmation: I am committed to bring God's peace through serving others in his kingdom.
Reflection: Why did the religious leaders miss the importance of the message Jesus brought? How was the message of the kingdom Jesus taught different from what the religious leaders were expecting from the Messiah?
To get the entire text of the Daily God Walk for today CLICK HERE
Your Thoughts: We would love to know your thoughts on this post. Just click on the the "comments" button at the top of the page
If you liked this post you may want to get entire month. Get the entire month of the Daily God Walk as our way of saying thanks for following this blog. To get your copy JUST CLICK HERE
LET'S TALK ABOUT IT! I would like to read your comments about today's post. Just above this post is the navigation bar. On the far right is "Let's Talk The God Walk" Just click on that page to make a comment about today's post.
Check out our other website at www.biblestudydevotions.com
The Daily God Walk now has a study guide edition.
Readers are finding that having the study guide helps them internalize the messages in the devotions.
It also provides a format for leading small groups
Check it out by clicking here