Theme: Peace with God means Peace with God
In the fifth chapter of Romans, Pastor Dan taught that we, born into sin, are the enemies of a holy God and that through Jesus, we are reconciled and at peace with God. As verse one of chapter five states, “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Something miraculously occurs when we enter this peace with God: we have peace with God. We are no longer enemies of a holy God and now have peace from this world's strife, struggles, worries, and divisiveness, should we choose to. The question for everyone who now is at peace with God is, do I choose to live as if I were still an enemy, or do I trust that this God who reconciled me when I was an enemy now loves me enough to direct my path? Paul described this perfectly in his letter to the Galatian church, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NIV) Because of that truth, Paul now had “the peace that passes all understanding.” I can elaborate on this using one of my favorite childhood stories, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss.
A mean-looking, small-hearted creature named "The Grinch" lives in the mountains above a small valley inhabited by timid little Whos. Their village is called "Whoville." The Grinch despises the little Whos for reasons I do not know, and he decides to make their lives miserable by stealing their Christmas presents, decorations, and festive foods. He even does the most evil thing by deceiving Cindy Lou Who into thinking he is Santa Claus when she unexpectedly wakes up while the Grinch steals her family's presents and Christmas tree!
On Christmas morning, while returning to his mountain home with all their Christmas possessions, the Grinch waits with bated breath, expecting to hear a tremendous collective cry of mourning from the Whos as they wake to find Christmas stolen. But to his great shock and surprise, the Grinch hears nothing of the kind. Instead of horror, he hears the Whos singing in celebration to welcome Christmas day as if nothing had happened at all! Instead of frustrating the Grinch, the Whos's behavior enlarges his wicked small heart by transforming it into one full of goodness and love. This leads him to return the stolen Christmas presents, decorations, and food to the Whos, who welcome him as their honored guest.
This story can have many explanations, but I believe it only holds one for those in Christ Jesus, those at peace and in peace with God. Like the Grinch, the world cannot grasp that we truly love and trust God more than the things it values as security. The world watches as trials and loss of worldly refuge test our love. When we love Christ, place Him first, and surrender our lives daily to His will, we experience joy and peace that cannot be stolen or comprehended by the world. However, it will enlarge the hearts of those who witness our lives, as we show them the trustworthy source of our joy and peace that overcomes the world.
Scripture: John 16:33 (NIV)
“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.”
Prayer:
Father, how can I thank you for initiating and doing everything needed to bring me into a peaceful relationship with you? I could have never done that with you or any of my worldly enemies, instead choosing to remain angry and vengeful. But you sent your Son, your very likeness, to die in my place so that I can be at peace with you. Right now, Lord, my head is exploding, trying to comprehend the whys and hows of your love. The only thing I have close to the power of doing to thank you is surrendering my life to you daily and hourly consciously and trusting in you as much as you give me the strength to do it. Lord, I surrender my life to you right now, and right now, and right now.
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