THE PEACE SERIES 2: LIKE JESUS OR LIKE THE DISCIPLES?
The beautiful story about Jesus and the storm in Mark 4:36-39 is my focus in this post. Its truly a beautiful story. Jesus and his disciples were crossing over to the other side and while they were sailing across, a storm arose; the winds raged and the waves slapped against the sides of the boat threatening to drown them all.Jesus was fast asleep and the disciples became so panicky and fearful that they had to wake him up to save them; 'Peace be still', Jesus commanded and the raging storm immediately ceased then great calm returned to the sea.
In the last piece, according to Phil4:7 we were made to understand that the peace of the Lord is that which surpasses all understanding. And from this story, we see that indeed, so it is or how do we explain that in the midst of a raging storm, Jesus could still be in deep sleep. This is what amazes me most about this story. If we relate this to life, we find that when there's so much trouble going on in a person's life- a child falls ill, a loved one dies, the debts are rising, a marriage is cruimbling; that is when peace is absent in the person's life. We can liken all these to the raging storm in the story yet in this raging storm, Jesus could still sleep so peacefully. The disciples must have thought silently, is he crazy?! Definitely not! That was simply the peace of God in action! The peace of the Lord is unconnected to troubles, chaos, wars or challenges, it is that inner quietude in our souls; it is that deep seated assurance that no matter what, God is with me. The peace of the Lord is not affected by what is going on around us. In life, as we cross over to bigger responsibilities, higher callings,higher posts, we are bound to face challenges and the storms will rage; as Christians (people like Christ;not churchgoers), would we let the peace of the Lord guard our hearts and go off to sleep? or would we let fear rule our hearts and and doubt that God is there for us? Like Jesus or like the disciples?
Stay blessed and posted!
Friday, 21 June 2013
Tuesday, 11 June 2013
SEEKING GOD
Job 8:5 says 'If you would earnestly seek God; And make your supplication to the Almighty. Then v.6 goes on to say, 'If you were pure and upright, Surely now He would awake for you, And prosper your rightful dwelling place.
For many years, Amaka had prayed to God for a husband. She was leaning towards 33 years of age yet there was no suitor. Her mind was always in turmoil; questions often flooded her thoughts and denied her of peace. She had been called names and even her family was not left out- the reason why she hardly contacted her parents. 'Amaka, you are a shame! At your age, no husband, no children!' her mother shouted at her one day over the phone. From vigils to prayer meetings to conventions to marriage seminars and conferences; no suitor. She had become a prayer point everywhere ; invested her money in books on marriage, fasted to no end yet her Mr. Right was not in sight. As she drove home from the bank that evening, the tears that cascaded down her pretty face blurred her vision , her hands were threatening to lose their hold on the steering so she veered off into a small street off the busy road and with what was left of her strength brought her car to a halt in front of one of the houses on the street. Then she bowed her head on the steering and began to weep. 'God, why?' She asked. 'Do you hate me this much? Where have I gone wrong?' Her whole body trembled as she sobbed uncontrollably. How long she sobbed there, she didn't know. She suddenly woke up with a start when it was dark. Where was she? She rubbed her eyes and looked around for a while wondering what on earth she was doing here. She started the car, still puzzled. When she finally found her way out to the road; everything had begun falling into place as she remembered what brought her here. Her heart didn't feel heavy as it did anymore; it felt light and happy and free. The peace that draped the core of her being was a deep-seated one. When was the last time she felt like this?As light and free as a bird with no worries weighing her down. She turned on the music in her car and the ambient sound of worship filled the car while she sang along. And as she sang, she was smiling. So God had been there for her all along and all she could do was worry about a man when HE had loved her all along. She was busy agitating about a husband when she already had God? She shook her head; she was now rounding the bend that marked off Randle avenue where she lived. As she turned into her street, she remembered HIS words from the dream that caused this transformation.'I don't hate you; I have loved you, I love you and will always love you'. These words were beautiful words that made her head spin like that of a sixteen year old. She hopped out of the car like a kid after she had parked outside the gate of her house. She was never going to worry about a husband again because God had already answered her prayers long long ago!
I once listened to a woman who talked about marriage and she said something about her life as a single woman. She said she discovered that she had been seeking a man all along and not God. And that was when she accepted God's will for her whether in marriage or singleness. Job8:5 talks about seeking God earnestly. Are we seeking God or seeking that job or marriage? Why are we serving God? These are questions that define our relationship with the Most High. Matt 6:33 enjoins us to seek first the kingdom of God and other things will be added to us. When we joy in the simple pleasure of relating with God and communing with Him, pleasing Him in all we do, laying all the burdens of our heart before him and still enjoying the peace that comes with trusting in Him instead of agitating, then God cannot sit and watch us this is why Job says that He will awake for us and whatever is rightfully ours; that job, husband, child, admission, first class degree will be given to us. You, just seek HIM first.
For many years, Amaka had prayed to God for a husband. She was leaning towards 33 years of age yet there was no suitor. Her mind was always in turmoil; questions often flooded her thoughts and denied her of peace. She had been called names and even her family was not left out- the reason why she hardly contacted her parents. 'Amaka, you are a shame! At your age, no husband, no children!' her mother shouted at her one day over the phone. From vigils to prayer meetings to conventions to marriage seminars and conferences; no suitor. She had become a prayer point everywhere ; invested her money in books on marriage, fasted to no end yet her Mr. Right was not in sight. As she drove home from the bank that evening, the tears that cascaded down her pretty face blurred her vision , her hands were threatening to lose their hold on the steering so she veered off into a small street off the busy road and with what was left of her strength brought her car to a halt in front of one of the houses on the street. Then she bowed her head on the steering and began to weep. 'God, why?' She asked. 'Do you hate me this much? Where have I gone wrong?' Her whole body trembled as she sobbed uncontrollably. How long she sobbed there, she didn't know. She suddenly woke up with a start when it was dark. Where was she? She rubbed her eyes and looked around for a while wondering what on earth she was doing here. She started the car, still puzzled. When she finally found her way out to the road; everything had begun falling into place as she remembered what brought her here. Her heart didn't feel heavy as it did anymore; it felt light and happy and free. The peace that draped the core of her being was a deep-seated one. When was the last time she felt like this?As light and free as a bird with no worries weighing her down. She turned on the music in her car and the ambient sound of worship filled the car while she sang along. And as she sang, she was smiling. So God had been there for her all along and all she could do was worry about a man when HE had loved her all along. She was busy agitating about a husband when she already had God? She shook her head; she was now rounding the bend that marked off Randle avenue where she lived. As she turned into her street, she remembered HIS words from the dream that caused this transformation.'I don't hate you; I have loved you, I love you and will always love you'. These words were beautiful words that made her head spin like that of a sixteen year old. She hopped out of the car like a kid after she had parked outside the gate of her house. She was never going to worry about a husband again because God had already answered her prayers long long ago!
I once listened to a woman who talked about marriage and she said something about her life as a single woman. She said she discovered that she had been seeking a man all along and not God. And that was when she accepted God's will for her whether in marriage or singleness. Job8:5 talks about seeking God earnestly. Are we seeking God or seeking that job or marriage? Why are we serving God? These are questions that define our relationship with the Most High. Matt 6:33 enjoins us to seek first the kingdom of God and other things will be added to us. When we joy in the simple pleasure of relating with God and communing with Him, pleasing Him in all we do, laying all the burdens of our heart before him and still enjoying the peace that comes with trusting in Him instead of agitating, then God cannot sit and watch us this is why Job says that He will awake for us and whatever is rightfully ours; that job, husband, child, admission, first class degree will be given to us. You, just seek HIM first.
THE PEACE SERIES: THE PEACE OF THE LORD
In John Mohmoh's appreciation speech for the award he recently received, he said the peace of the Lord which surpasses all understanding has contributed to his success. This got me thinking......."What is peace?" Is there a difference between peace and the peace of the Lord? Why is it so important and almost indispensable? I recall being at a service one morning; we were told to ask our neighbours what they wanted and commit that thing into prayers so I asked my neigbour, "What do you want?" and "Peace", came the simple reply from this gaily dressed neighbour of mine. And I thought to myself, why would she ask just that? Was there a raging storm under that cool beautiful exterior she was putting on?
So back to these questions. We would first take a look at this verse to define the peace of God:
`'and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus Phillipians 4:7 (NKJV)
This is the simple but powerful meaning of peace that the Holy Spirit led Paul to understand and he in turn has made us to understand this simple truth. Note the simplicity and yet the depth of this; the peace of God is a peace which surpasses all understanding!
By God's grace, my subsequent posts would help us to gain insight on what the peace of God really is.
Keep it a date!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)