Tag: Shalom

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Rest

Daily Reading

Job 29-31

Daily Thought

Job ignored his friends and laid out his final appeal before God: my life was good, really good (Job 29). Now it’s really bad (Job 30). What did I do wrong? (Job 31). At least sixteen times Job suggests a sin and begins, “If I have,” by which he means he hasn’t. Job is, indeed, a righteous man.

If “the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28), Job was intentional in turning away: “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” (Job 31:1). It was not that his eyes would stop seeing–that would be impossible–but that they would never stop moving. The first look is free, it cannot be stopped. It is the second look that costs you. Job’s eyes would not fix their gaze on what they should not.

Job had, at last, presented his case before God, and he was done; “the words of Job are ended” (Job 31:40). In judicial jargon, he rested.

“The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.” ~Isaiah 32:17

It is called shalom, this place of peace where Job had arrived. The turmoil swirled around him still, yet he is secure in the hands of God, as he had always been.

Daily Prayer

Father in heaven, You are holy, You are good. Your kingdom is righteous. I long to live forever in a righteous kingdom, a kingdom where peace reigns, but may it begin now with me. May I find peace in a messy world by trusting in You. 

Help me guard my eyes, God, that they will not linger on temptation. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, may I fix my gaze on such as these and delight in goodness. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth, in my life, right now, as it is in heaven. 

Amen

Daily Question

What intentional habits do you practice to keep yourself from sinning? 

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Like a Child

Daily Reading

Matthew 11-12

Daily Thought

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. ~Matthew 11:25-26

On the wall over the fireplace is mounted a “Smart TV.” It is filled with hundreds of apps showing thousands of programs, all accessible by pressing a few of the thirty buttons on one of the three remotes laying on the side table. I just want to watch the Packers play the Rams. But which channel? Is it ESPN or Amazon Prime or one of the Networks, ABC, CBS, NBC, or FOX. I am ten minutes into the game before I figure it out.

Sometimes I long for childhood when the TV had three channels plus UHF (which no kid watched because it only showed documentaries). Sure, there were too few stations to show all the games, and none may be showing the game I wanted. but the game that was on, I watched, and so did all my friends, and the next day at school we had something to talk about because we all watched the same game. It was something we shared. It was community. It was simple. It was good.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” ~Matthew 11:28

More isn’t always better. Sometimes it’s just more. I am a grandpa now, “Bapa” to Zoë and Clarke. There are times when this cluttered life leaves them distressed, but I have two arms for two granddaughters and I open them and they snuggle in and their heads melt into my chest and life is simple and good again.

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” ~Matthew 18:3

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am amazed that you wait for me with open arms. I rush by you, rush away from you, so often, for things I think are important. They never satisfy me like You do. Keep reminding me to seek You first and let You take care of everything else. You are in charge of this world. I should let You order it. There is only one place of peace I know and that is in Your arms.

Amen

Daily Question

Are you happy with the amount of activity in your life?

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One and Only

Daily Reading

Psalm 90–95

Daily Thought

Life is competition. There is always something bigger, something better, someone smarter, someone stronger. We are in a constant quest for improvement and achievement and growth.

It is true in everything, except one thing, our God. There is no God bigger, no God better, no God smarter, no God stronger. No other God.

Good can become better, and better can become best. Even best can improve, achieve, grow. But it all comes to rest at Ultimate, the Most High, the One and Only. There is a place of rest, one place, and only one place, where we do not strive for more because we cannot strive for more. The Hebrews call this Shalom, a place of wholeness and holiness, of peace and rest, “my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:2).

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. ~Psalm 91:1

Daily Prayer

Oh Lord our God, You are One, the One and Only God. You sent Your Son, Your One and Only Son, to seek and to save the lost. Me. All of us. Thank You for Your grace and love. Your love for sinners sets You apart from anything else. All love is measured by You, who, while we were still sinners, died on the cross for our salvation.

God, I pray that my love would grow to be as complete and sacrificial as Yours. May I love without strings. May I realize that I don’t need anything else because I can rest complete in You. Then my love will be pure, free of selfish motive.

Amen

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Rest

Daily Reading

Job 29-31

Daily Thought

Job ignores his friends and lays out his final appeal before God: my life was good, really good (Job 29). Now it’s really bad (Job 30). What did I do wrong? (Job 31). At least sixteen times he begins, “If I have,” meaning he hasn’t, and the sins he lists are common sins. Job is, indeed, a righteous man.

“Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28). Job was intent on turning away. “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” (Job 31:1), not that his eyes would stop seeing–that would be impossible–but that they would never stop moving. That they would not fix their gaze on what they should not. The first look is free, it cannot be stopped. It is the second look that costs you. “If my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes,” (Job 31:7); Job knew his steps follow his heart and his heart follows his eyes, so he contested temptation quickly. 

Job presented his case before God, then he was done; “The words of Job are ended” (Job 31:40). In judicial jargon, he rested. It is called shalom, peace, “and the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever” (Isaiah 32:17). The turmoil swirled around him still, but he was in the hands of God now, as he had always been.

Daily Prayer

Father in heaven, You are holy, You are good. Your kingdom is righteous. I long to live forever in a righteous kingdom, a kingdom where peace reigns, but may it begin now with me. May I find peace in a righteous life and contentment in trusting You. 

Help me guard my eyes, God, that they will not linger on temptation. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, may I fix my gaze on such as these and delight in goodness. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth, in my life, right now, as it is in heaven. 

Amen