Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s and you saw peace signs everywhere. Technology brought the Viet Nam War into our living rooms for the first time in history and we heard the daily body count from across the sea. Everyone longed for peace.
Scripture
John 20:20-21
Jesus: May each one of you be at peace.
As He was speaking, He revealed the wounds in His hands and side. The disciples began to celebrate as it sank in that they were really seeing the Lord.
Jesus: I give you the gift of peace. In the same way the Father sent Me, I am now sending you.
Devotional
What does peace mean to you?
There will never be peace between nations.
We can’t even have peace within nations as evidenced by our most recent elections here.
We often can’t achieve peace in our own households as evidenced by divorce rates climbing toward 60%
So what is peace?
Definition of peace: 1. freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility. 2.freedom from or the cessation of war or violence.
Is this what Jesus promised His disciples and us?
Freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility?
Slander; persecution; martyrdom
Where is the peace He promised?
If looking for peace in regard to our relation to the world, it will never happen
The world hated Him and will hate us
Promised trouble in this world and all who follow Him have found trouble if they share His message or live the life He demands of us
The world opposes us and tries to turn us to their ways
When we don’t they do everything they can to destroy us
So what kind of peace did Jesus leave?
Inner peace
Peace with ourselves and with God
Freedom from the guilt that plagues us because of estrangement from God in our wickedness
Doesn’t mean we’re murderers or robbers
Although, Jesus says hate means murder
Coveting, means robbery
Robbing God with our tithes and offerings
All have sinned against God
Failed to honor Him and live the life He wants us to live
We know we need His forgiveness
He gives assurance of forgiveness and peace
What can you give in exchange for that peace?
Nothing
Nothing in all the world is worth the peace you can have in knowing your sins are forgiven
Every follower of Jesus who is really all in for Him knows that
His legacy is peace
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
How many guns give you peace? Guns are debated a lot in this country. Is one or two a good number? How about 13 million? Actually, guns have nothing to do with peace or fear. But they are interesting to talk about.
Scripture
John 14:25-27
Jesus: I have spoken these words while I am here with you. The Father is sending a great Helper, the Holy Spirit, in My name to teach you everything and to remind you of all I have said to you. My peace is the legacy I leave to you. I don’t give gifts like those of this world. Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful.
Devotional
As I read Jesus words today, “Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful.” I thought about how fearful our nation remains. We seem to be scared of everything. Sometimes for good reason with all the talk of terrorists and crime rates and road rage and general violence going on everywhere.
Last available statistics from the Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive
Interesting they put all those things under the same department, things that are all equally deadly to our population
9 million firearms manufactured in the US 2015
3.9 million imported into the US in 2015
13 million brand new firearms floating around the country in the hands of mostly responsible, but some pretty irresponsible people
I’m one of those holders of firearms, think I’m responsible
Never the gun that kills, but the person that holds it
Weapons don’t bring peace
Instruments of destruction
Provide an easier means of taking life
Able to do so without getting as personal as with a club or bare hands
Just pull the trigger and with a rifle, may never see their eyes or the expression on their face
Comedian on the Internet
Wanted to buy a defensive gun for protection
Not one of those that killers and robbers use
Jesus brings peace
Gives gifts unlike the world
Promises a legacy of peace
Inner peace
Will never stop the wars between nations or between fellow human beings until He returns
Holy Spirit beings personal peace in the turmoil of life
Circumstances don’t dictate our states of mind or emotional distress
Jesus gives peace the world cannot understand or receive because the world doesn’t know Him
I still like shooting my guns
But my peace comes from the legacy Jesus gives, not from the legacy of the wild west
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
John 14:15-31 Jesus: 15 If you love Me, obey the commandments I have given you. 16 I will ask the Father to send you another Helper, the Spirit of truth, who will remain constantly with you. 17 The world does not recognize the Spirit of truth, because it does not know the Spirit and is unable to receive Him. But you do know the Spirit because He lives with you, and He will dwell in you. 18 I will never abandon you like orphans; I will return to be with you. 19 In a little while, the world will not see Me; but I will not vanish completely from your sight. Because I live, you will also live. 20 At that time, you will know that I am in the Father, you are in Me, and I am in you. 21 The one who loves Me will do the things I have commanded. My Father loves everyone who loves Me; and I will love you and reveal My heart, will, and nature to you. The Other Judas: 22 Lord, why will You reveal Yourself to us, but not to the world? Jesus: 23 Anyone who loves Me will listen to My voice and obey. The Father will love him, and We will draw close to him and make a dwelling place within him. 24 The one who does not love Me ignores My message, which is not from Me, but from the Father who sent Me. 25 I have spoken these words while I am here with you. 26 The Father is sending a great Helper, the Holy Spirit, in My name to teach you everything and to remind you of all I have said to you. 27 My peace is the legacy I leave to you. I don’t give gifts like those of this world. Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful. 28 You were listening when I said, “I will go away, but I will also return to be with you.” If you love Me, celebrate the fact that I am going to be with the Father because He is far greater than I am. 29 I have told you all these things in advance so that your faith will grow as these things come to pass. 30 I am almost finished speaking to you. The one who rules the world is stepping forward, and he has no part in Me; 31 but to demonstrate to the cosmos My love for the Father, I will do just as He commands. Stand up. It is time for us to leave this place.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
It was so hard to give those final words to My disciples that night. I knew what was coming and wanted to tell them so much more, but I knew they would not understand yet. Time was so short for My human frame. Judas had already left and was going to the priests to give them the sign by which he would identify Me to the soldiers who would take Me away. I knew the brutality of what was ahead. As a man, I feared death. I feared the physical pain I was about to endure. I knew the Father would stay near Me until the end, but I also knew there would come a point at which He must turn His back on Me because I would bear the sins of the world and I must appease the penalty for sin before I could conquer the grave.
I tried to give words of comfort to My disciples and listened to those same words in My humanness. I believed them. I knew them to be true. I was in touch with My Father and knew the splendor of heaven that awaited Me, but I also dreaded the sorrow and pain both My disciples and I would endure in the coming hours. The depth of that conflict between My deity and humanness shows in My garden prayers. I wanted to avoid what was coming if there was any other way to get the Father’s plan accomplished. But His plan is always paramount…always.
So I gave encouragement to those around Me as best I could so they could face the coming trial and perhaps better understand all the events that would happen in the three days that would transpire before they saw Me again. I wanted them to believe and perhaps these words of encouragement would get them through the grief until I could return to them. Then, of course, they would understand. And when My Spirit return, they would have Me in them. They would really begin to comprehend all I said to them and My words would open to them as never before.
I wanted them to know the peace I enjoyed despite the coming trauma. Peace despite the accusations. Peace despite the coming crucifixion. Peace that the world will never enjoy. Peace that I leave as a legacy to all My followers. Peace. The angels who heralded My birth said I would give peace to all people who pleased God. That is My legacy. Enjoy My peace.
Acts 20:13-38 13 Again Paul wanted us to split up. He wanted to go by land by himself while we went by ship to Assos. 14 There he came on board with us, and we sailed on to Mitylene. 15 From there we sailed near Chios, passing by it the next day, docking briefly at Samos the day after that, then arriving at Miletus the following day. 16 This route kept us safely out of Ephesus and didn’t require Paul to spend any time at all in Asia, since he wanted to arrive in Jerusalem quickly—before Pentecost, he hoped.
17 In Miletus he sent word to the church in Ephesus, asking the elders to come down to meet with him. 18 When they arrived, he talked with them.
Paul: We will have many memories of our time together in Ephesus; but of all the memories, most of all I want you to remember my way of life. From the first day I arrived in Asia, 19 I served the Lord with humility and tears, patiently enduring the many trials that came my way through the plots of my Jewish opponents. 20 I did everything I could to help you; I held nothing back. I taught you publicly, and I taught you in your homes. 21 I told everyone the same message—Jews and Greeks alike—that we must turn toward God and have faith in our Lord Jesus the Anointed. 22 Now I feel that the Holy Spirit has taken me captive. I am being led to Jerusalem. My future is uncertain, 23 but I know—the Holy Spirit has told me—that everywhere I go from now on, I will find imprisonment and persecution waiting for me. 24 But that’s OK. That’s no tragedy for me because I don’t cling to my life for my own sake. The only value I place on my life is that I may finish my race, that I may fulfill the ministry that Jesus our King has given me, that I may gladly tell the good news of God’s grace. 25 I now realize that this is our last good-bye. You have been like family in all my travels to proclaim the kingdom of God, but after today none of you will see my face again. 26 So I want to make this clear: I am not responsible for your destiny from this point on 27 because I have not held back from telling you the purpose of God in all its dimensions.
28 Here are my instructions: diligently guard yourselves, and diligently guard the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has given you oversight. Shepherd the church of God, this precious church which He made His own through the blood of His own Son. 29 I know that after I’ve gone, dangerous wolves will sneak in among you, savaging the flock. 30 Some of you here today will begin twisting the truth, enticing disciples to go your way, to follow you. 31 You must be on guard, and you must remember my way of life among you. For three years, I have kept on, persistently warning everyone, day and night, with tears.
32 So now I put you in God’s hands. I entrust you to the message of God’s grace, a message that has the power to build you up and to give you rich heritage among all who are set apart for God’s holy purposes. 33 Remember my example: I never once coveted a single coin of silver or gold. I never looked twice at someone’s fine clothing. 34 No, you know this: I worked with my own two hands making tents, and I paid my own expenses and my companions’ expenses as well. 35 This is my last gift to you, this example of a way of life: a life of hard work, a life of helping the weak, a life that echoes every day those words of Jesus our King, who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
36 Once again, imagine this scene:
As Paul finishes speaking, he kneels down; and we all join him, kneeling. He prays, and we all join him, praying. 37 There’s the sound of weeping, and then more weeping, and then more still. One by one, we embrace Paul and kiss him, 38 our sadness multiplied because of his words about this being our last good-bye. We walk with him to the ship, and he sets sail.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
Paul’s final departure from his friends in Ephesus tore at his heart as it did all of those around him. Lots of tears flowed that day. Paul and all those around him knew it would be the last time they would see each other this side of eternity. Paul had some parting words for them that I hope cause you to think about what you want others to think about you when that day comes for you.
You see, life is so much more than eating and sleeping and working and just going through motions every day. Life is more than just slogging through each day one at a time from the day you are born until the day you die. You might think you have no influence like Paul or Peter or James. Paul impacted lives because of one reason. He let me use him the way I wanted to use him. I had a specific plan for his life and he let Me into his life in a dramatic way.
The question is will you let Me into your life in the same way. I probably won’t ask you to go to Africa or China or Asia to face shipwreck and prison and beatings. But you know where I first asked Paul to go? The synagogue. His church. I asked him to speak the plain truth to his brothers and sisters who didn’t understand the truth yet. I might ask you to do that.
Did you know the hardest people for Me to get through to today are the ones who think they are Christians? The people that are farthest from Me are the ones that think they know Me because they fill a seat in a church service every week, but don’t engage with Me in a personal way. They have their names on a church roll. They put money in an offering plate sometimes, some of them even regularly. They know the words to the songs being sung.
But when they walk out the door of the church, they leave Me there. The world has no idea they know Me. Their actions look no different than the co-worker who doesn’t own a Bible. Their thoughts are no different than delinquent sitting in the holding tank at the police station. They just haven’t acted on their thoughts…yet. Maybe you are even one of those who fail to talk to Me for days at a time. How can we have a relationship like that?
Wearing My name doesn’t mean you’re Mine anymore than wearing a Spurs basketball jersey makes you professional basketball player. It’s what’s inside that counts. I can make you a person of influence and power. But My way. With My influence and My power, not the world’s. It will look like the kind of influence and power I want you to have because I have a plan only you can fulfill. It might be to talk with the person standing next to you in line. Do you have the courage to let Me direct your life the way I did Paul’s?
He never turned back and the legacy he left still lives on. You want to give Me a try? Go ahead. I won’t let you down.
