Day 26 of 30 day devotional.

We preach to men as if they were conscious of being dying sinners, but they are not. They are having a good time, and all our talk about the need to be born again is from a domain they know nothing about; because some men try to drown unhappiness in worldly pleasures it does not follow all are like that. There is nothing attractive about the Gospel to the natural man; the only man who finds the Gospel attractive is the man who is convicted of sin. 

Apart from a knowledge of Jesus Christ, and apart from being crumpled up by conviction of sin, men have a disposition which keeps them perfectly happy and peaceful. Conviction of sin is produced by the incoming of the Holy Spirit because conscience is promptly made to look at God’s demands.

For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul. Jeremiah 31:25 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/jer.31.25.KJV

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity. 1 Corinthians 16:13‭-‬14 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.16.13-14.KJV

For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Jeremiah 6:13‭-‬14 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/jer.6.13-14.KJV

Day 25 of 30 day Devotional.

The majority of people do not see what is wrong, and the talk of a prophet like Jeremiah is nonsense. We never can face the things that are wrong, apart from God, without getting insane. If sin is a trifling thing and we can preach to the healing of people and bring peace on any other line, then the tragedy of the Cross is a huge blunder. To live a life hid with Christ in God means we see at times what men and women are like without God, from God’s standpoint, and it also means vicarious intercession for them, while they look upon us with pity.

Clear from me my hidden faults. Keep Your servant also from presumptuous sins. Oh that I could find You exhibiting in me Your peace and purity!

Reflection Questions: Why must we be clear about what is wrong before we can be made right? Why is it impossible to make peace where sin is present? Why is purity required for peace?

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 1 John 5:15 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/1jn.5.15.KJV

Day 24 of 30 day devotional.

We must be like a plague of mosquitoes to the Almighty with our fussy little worries and anxieties, and the perplexities we imagine, all because we won’t get into the elemental life with God which Jesus came to give. “His love in times past” should enable us to rest confidentially in Him. There is security from yesterday, security for tomorrow, and security for today. It was this knowledge that gave our Lord the imperturbable peace He always had.

Communities are man’s attempt at building up the city of God; man is confident that if only God will give him time enough he will build not only a holy city, but a holy community and establish peace on earth, and God is allowing him ample opportunity to try, until he is satisfied that God’s way is the only way.

Reflection Questions: What worries and anxieties do I indulge in that reveal my lack of peace? What societies and systems do we build to minimize our need for peace with God?

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24‭-‬26 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/num.6.24-26.KJV

Day 23 of 30 day devotional.

When we are born again from above, quickened and raised up by God, we find it is possible to consider the lilies because we have not only the peace of God, but the very peace that characterized Jesus Christ. We are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. The old way of doing things, the old fuss and fume are dead, and we are a new creation in Christ Jesus. In that new creation is manifested the very peace that was manifested in Jesus Christ.

When God raises us up into the heavenly places, He imparts to us the very purity of Jesus Christ. That is what the sanctified life means—the undisturbable range of His peace, the unshakeable, indefatigable power of His strength, and the unfathomable, crystalline purity of His holiness.

Reflection Question: Do I fuss and fume over every inconvenience or do I consider the possibility that they were put there to slow me down and cause me to see something important that I would have missed?

For thus saith the Lord , That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord , thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. Jeremiah 29:10‭-‬12 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/jer.29.10-12.KJV