Peace in God and with God - Day 7 Through the Bible

"Piecemakers Quilt Guild" Show at Burnsville, NC Town Center

(Hand-stitched Quilts are probably the most celebrated heritage craft of the Appalachian Mountains.  This is a dying art as many of the quilts are now partially or all machine-stitched.  One of our church members belongs to this guild and is one of the only remaining quilters doing all hand-stitched quilts.  She and a group of Mt. Celo Church members used to have quiltings in the basement of the church and use proceeds from the quilts to support mission work.)

Lessons from the Readings

  1)   Both material wealth and poverty have been given by God to His people in their earthly lives – Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. (Gen 13:2) Job was very wealthy, lost all, was given even more at the end; Jesus, the Son of God “had nowhere to lay His head.”  While the Old Testament occasionally speaks of material wealth as the fruit of obedience, the New Testament speaks of sharing in the sufferings of Christ as the fruit of obedience.  Abram’s wealth brought him problems as well as blessings.  (“Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.  And there was strife…(Genesis 13:6-7).  It is not our material possessions – or lack of them - that impact our lives for God, but our devotion and obedience to Him that He uses to impact the world for His glory and purposes.

  2)   Beauty and wealth (and special gifts – such as intelligence) can be both blessings and curses.  We don’t need to look much beyond Hollywood to see this.  (Sarai was very beautiful, and Abram feared being killed on account of that, and this led to his scheming and deception. Gen 12:11-20).  I heard a statement in a sermon once on this – regarding Sarai, Tamar and other Biblical examples.  “Beauty, wealth and great talent attract the wrong kinds of people.  Teach your children this.”  Any parent with children so “blessed”, knows the truth of this statement.

  3)   Make decisions only in accordance with the Word of God and in prayer with God – not according to greed, selfishness or what someone else tells you.  Abram said to Lot …let there be no strife between you and me…you take, and then I will go…“Lot lifted his eyes…saw that it was well watered…chose for himself…pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.  But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.”  Genesis 13: 10-13.  “Abraham called on the name of the Lord (Gen. 13:4) …And the Lord said to Abram…lift your eyes now, look…for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.”….the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself…but  Abram said, “I have raised my hand to the Lord…I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, “I have make Abram rich.”’  Glory and praise belong only to God.

A question I will contemplate during this year of study:  Who is Melchizedek? King of Salem (Peace/Jerusalem) and priest of God Most High…blessed Abram and God.. Abram gave him a tithe of all. (Gen14:18-20)  A highly-debated subject in theology…A Pre-incarnate Appearance of Christ?  Melchizedek is not of the order of the Levites.  Christ is said to be of the order of Melchizedek.  (Hebrews 6-7 and Psalm 110:4)

  4)   Meditate, be still, trust in the Lord, lie down in peace, for God alone makes us dwell in safety…another Life Principle of Dr. Stanley’s – Peace with God is the fruit of Oneness with God…communion…Psalm 4: 4-8 

  5)   Receive, treasure, incline your ear, apply, cry out,  lift up your voice , seek, search for wisdom, understanding, discernment…then I will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God…why I have committed to this study of God’s Word – Proverbs 2:1-5  

  6)   Charitable deeds and prayer are to be done in secret before God.  Let the reward come from God – not man.   What we do for God in secret, He will reward openly.  (Matthew 6:1-18 )

  7)   While the Bible also encourages collective prayer, all is to glorify God, to have the focus on God – not man or self.   Note the emphasis of the Lord’s Prayer (which is really the Disciple’s Prayer since the Lord had no sin to forgive):  Our Father…Your name…Your kingdom…Your will…(You) give us…(You) forgive us…(You) do not lead us…(You) deliver us…Yours is the kingdom, the power, the glory forever.  Our part in this prayer – to forgive our debtors. Matthew 6: 9-13

APPLICATION:  Stay in the presence of God – Maintain the spiritual, eternal focus/mindset – “Turn my eyes upon Jesus”