Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 5:1)

I pray you had great worship on this past Lord’s Day in your local church! Let’s join together and worship our Lord today with adoration, praise and thanksgiving. For He is our Way-maker, Peacemaker, Lilly in the valley, bright Morning Star. He is worthy to be praised. Our scripture passage reminds us of the peace we have with God, and for that we have the liberty to worship and praise Him continually. “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The war with God is over. We are no longer enemies with God, but children. We have peace with Him and become allies of His kingdom. By faith, “hath He quickened (made alive) together with Him” (Col 2:13) and forgiven all our sinful and selfish deeds in the flesh. As His children, we are now “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:17). The fear and fight against death, hell and the grave is over. “We are more than conquerors” (Rom 8:37) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are victorious to live in “peace with God” and in the hope of His eternal glory, “which is Christ in you” (Col 1:27). Christ established eternal peace between us and God and “He Himself is our peace” (Eph 2:14). His finished work on the Cross is the assurance that enables every child of God to stand firm against the attacks of Satan. Satan cannot rob your “peace with God” that is established and built upon faith in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, he will align his forces and form assaults on your goodness and self-merit to disrupt and disturb your peace of mind with doubt, disillusions, discouragements, and disharmony among believers. My friend, though the attacks will come, you can withstand every assault through faith in Jesus Christ and upon the word of God. The child of God can say in faith with great confidence “You will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee” (Is 26:3). My friend, take heart. Through Jesus we have “peace with God” and by faith, there is peace of mind for all who will look to His word and trust in the Lord for His help. Father, thank You for the perfect peace You promise and provide through Your Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ. Thank You for the privilege to tell others how they may have “peace with God” as Your light of peace shines brightly through us. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

“This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19)

Memorial Day is time for honoring and mourning the military service men and women who died in the performance of their duties while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Traditionally, it was a Day when families, friends and community came together to remember and honor the sacrifices of their loved ones who had fallen in combat and comfort the grief of those left behind. The graves of the fallen were places of visitation and oftentimes they became decorated sites with lively flowers. Flowers reminded those who visited the site of the beauty in life, the sweet aroma reminded them of the joys that fill our lives and shared with others. Yet when the flowers would fade, they reminded them of how fragile life is when it gone. Remembrance is a blessing from God. Our scripture passage today calls for the child of God to a time of remembrance. Remember that “God created us in His image” and that He “so loved” us that he sent His “only begotten Son” into the world to die for our sin that we “should not perish but have everlasting life.” Jesus said remember this occasion, but never forget the meaning of the occasion. In obedience to Christ, the child of God is to gather at the Lord’s table to honor His life, commemorate His death, and celebrate His resurrection. His life is an example of the life that God created us to live. His death is the death that we deserve to die because of our sin. His resurrection is the hope that “all who believeth in Him” will not perish but have life eternal with the Father. He gave Himself that that we might have life. And have life eternally and abundantly. My friend and dearly beloved of the Father, as you gather with family and friends to honor and celebrate those who have fallen on this Memorial Day, take time to remember the One who is risen, and worship Him in spirit and in truth. Worship Him, for He is worthy of all praise. Remember the words that Jesus spoke “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Father, thank You for Your love. Thank You for life in Jesus Christ. Thank You for the living hope and the eternal glory that we will spend with You in heaven through Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen. 

And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:39)

The mark of our western society is its desire for immediate gratification. It is a culture where people have grown accustom and to expect service in an instant, satisfaction without waiting and convenience above cost. Some of the most disturbing and unsettling words spoken in this culture are “no” and “wait.” Our scripture passage today reminds us how God patiently works in the life of the believer to fulfill and accomplish His plan and purpose. God is a patient God and He “worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: that we should be the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ” (Eph 1:11-12). God, in His patience accomplished His plan for the salvation of man and the birth of the Church. God works according to His plan and in His timing. The Bible declares that “the fullness of time…God sent forth His Son” (Gal 4:4), and also “the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ” (Eph 1:10). God works His plan Perfectly, Powerfully, Personally and Patiently in all things for His glory. Jesus is a perfect example of God’s patience. He patiently demonstrated faith in the Fathers will for His life as He faced challenges, conflicts, and confrontations. He endured suffer, separation and solitude to honor and glorify the Father. He was forsaken yet remained faithful. He was accused yet accepted all who came to Him in faith. He was broken, but never bitter. Patience is a virtue by which we come to know the heavenly Father and glorify Him by faith in Jesus Christ. Through faith in His patience, we may know the sufficiency of His grace and His perfect strength in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9). My friend, “tarry…until ye be endued with power from on high” and trust God’s patience that you may be “made perfect in love” (1 Jn 4:18). Father, thank You for Your patience as You work Your plan in my life. Encourage my faith with confidence to proclaim, “that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6). Father, we love You, we praise You, and adore You. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.