Peace Like A River - Isaiah 47-49 and I Thessalonians 4
Many of us have sang "I've Got Peace Like A River", but we may not have realized that these words came from Isaiah. More importantly, we may not have realized the way to have peace like a river and righteousness like the waves of the sea. Isaiah made it very clear that peace and righteousness come from keeping God's commands. His point was that we receive wonderful blessings from doing things God's way, instead of trusting our own way. The Lord told them plainly, "There is no peace for the wicked." The wicked are not just the terrible people in the world. Any of us who ignore God are pursuing the path of sin or wickedness. God has a wonderful plan for each of us, if we will listen to Him and follow Him in faith. He will not forget us any more than a nursing mother will forget her child. God cares for us, and He will meet our needs as we trust Him. When our needs are met, and we have pleased Him, there is an abundance of peace flowing like a river. There is a swelling tide of righteousness like the waves of the sea.
That is why Paul told the believers in Thessalonica, "This is the will of God, your sanctification." God did not want to be a cruel task master to them. He wanted to set them free from the bondage to sin and the effects of sin in this old world. He wanted them to know real love. He wanted them to have real security in Him. Paul even assured them that God has the end of time worked out. He has not forgotten those who have died in the Lord. Their bodies will be raised first, and then, those who are alive will be changed to meet them in the air with Jesus. God has it all worked out, so if we allow Him to lead us, we can have great peace as we trust Him. I pray that each of us will have peace like a river today, and I pray that we will realize it comes from keeping God commands out of love for Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 50-52 and I Thessalonians 5.
That is why Paul told the believers in Thessalonica, "This is the will of God, your sanctification." God did not want to be a cruel task master to them. He wanted to set them free from the bondage to sin and the effects of sin in this old world. He wanted them to know real love. He wanted them to have real security in Him. Paul even assured them that God has the end of time worked out. He has not forgotten those who have died in the Lord. Their bodies will be raised first, and then, those who are alive will be changed to meet them in the air with Jesus. God has it all worked out, so if we allow Him to lead us, we can have great peace as we trust Him. I pray that each of us will have peace like a river today, and I pray that we will realize it comes from keeping God commands out of love for Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 50-52 and I Thessalonians 5.