What Happens When We Disobey God?

The Effects Of Disobeying God

I’m the life of a reluctant and disobedient prophet, Jonah, We will learn 4 affects that can result from disobeying God. Like Christians today, not every prophet of God is willing to participate in God’s work and mission.

Do you really think that disobedience to God can happen without there being consequences?

This is not an exhaustive list of all the effects for disobeying God but rather just four that we can be pretty sure we’ll come out if we choose not to join God on his mission.

1. Disobedience To God Will Not Affect You But Others As Well

All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.

Jonah 1:5

When we intentionally disobey God and refused to join Him on His mission our decision will not only affect us but those around us.

There were others on the ship with Jonah And they were all affected by the storm. They were afraid of drowning in the raging sea. One person’s disobedience has a peril affect on the lives of all the people who associate with them.

When we decide to disobey God it will affect our family, our friends and ultimately the people we are to share the gospel with.

2. Disobedience To God Will Appear As Though You’re Not Concerned About Others

But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and feet into a deep sleep. The captain went to him abs said, ‘How can you sleep? Get up and call to your God. Maybe He will take notice of us so that we will not perish.

Jonah 1: 6-17

Where was Jonah as a storm developed? He was asleep in the bottom of the ship. When the captain of the ship found him he could hardly believe what he saw in disbelief he asked, “How can you sleep?’

The captain was shocked. It appeared to him that Jonah could care less about the situation and they were all in. It looked as though Jonah wasn’t concerned that everyone was about to die

The issue wasn’t that Jonah didn’t care. The issue was gonna do exactly what was happening and why. When we disobey God we develop a hardened heart to God and his will That it comes across to others as uncaring and heartless.

3. Your Disobedience To God Will Be Found Out By Others

Then the sailers said to each other, Come, let is cast lots to find out who is responsible for this Clamity. The cast lots and lot fell on Jonah.

Jonah 1:7

This part of the account proves once again that the old saying

Your Sins Will Be Found Out

Through the throwing of dice, God was able to show everyone on the ship that Jonah was the cause of their perilous situation.

This account of Jonah not only showed that though you can run from God you can’t hide from God but also that you will be exposed by God.

We would love to hide our disobedience and sin to God deep in a closet so no one will know about them but God has a way of exposing them so that we will have to deal with them and it’s usually done in the plain view of others.

4. Disobedience To God Won’t Stop God From Pursuing You

So, they ask him, tell us who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you? He answered, I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord the God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land. Just terrified them, so they ask him, tell us who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you? He answered, I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord the God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land. Just terrified themSo, they ask him, tell us who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you? He answered, I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord the God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land. Just terrified them and they asked, what have you done? I knew he was running away from the Lord because he had already told them so. The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they ask him, what should we do to make the sea come down for us? Pick me up and throw me into the sea he replied, And it will be come home. I know that it is my fault that is great storm has come up on you. Instead, and then decided to do their best to roll back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before.

Jonah 1: 8-13

Even after the sailors discovered that Jonah was the cause of the storm and what they needed to do to stop the storm by throwing Jonah overboard they tried as hard as they could to get it ship to shore that’s a no avail. They didn’t want to see Jonah die on account of them but even their best efforts wasn’t going to help to stop God from calling Jonah to account for his disobedience.

Here’s A Spiritual Truth That You Count On!

What has a mission for you to accomplish, He Will not stop pursuing you and nothing will prevent Him from getting your attention if you choose to obey Him.

Don’t think that just because you have told God that you refuse to obey Him that He will leave you alone because He won’t.

Our God is a tenacious God and He never gives up on His pursuit of us.

Instead, I’m just obedient bitch choose obedience to God.

Instead, I’m suffering the effects of disobedience let’s enjoy the blessings of obedience.in Gods Word, God asks us to come follow Jesus many times, but if we don’t He warns us that the judgements of God are true and righteous altogether, and if we don’t obey it will obey in disaster.

Maybe, just maybe this is what is happening in our world today. Many refuse to obey God or even acknowledge Him. And it will lead to disaster.

Important Things God Asks You To Do

Do you want to know what God asks of you? Sometimes it can be confusing, but I have found by focusing on the main things, it will all fall into place.

So many times we want God to reveal Himself to us. We may question if He is real. And if we do believe in Him to really put Himself on display in big ways.

What I’ve discovered in the 22 years since I’ve become a Christian is that I’ve learned more about God by focusing on the priorities – the main things He asks us to do – in the Bible than any other way.

It seems the Bible is made up of a lot of rules, but actually, when we focus on the few most important things, the rest is taken care of.

When we do what God has already asked us to do, He will reveal so much more about Himself and His wAys. I learn about Him by turning to Him in all circumstances, depending on Him, thanking His often, and loving others.

What does He reveal? Hs loving heart. His willingness to provide for us. And His concern for people in this world. As I follow Him in these ways I am changed and the world is impacted for God.

Here are 9 important things God asks us to do:

1. Believe In Jesus.

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.

Acts 16:31

Understand because of our in we deserve to be separated from God for eternity, but through the sacrifice of Jesus, we can be saved from punishment and can spend eternity with Him.

2. Put Living For Jesus First In Your Life.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

This means daily seeking Jesus, reading the Bible, loving others as Jesus did, and trusting He will care for your needs.

3. Read The Bible.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man (woman) of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

When we read the Bible, we learn more about God and His ways. We learn how to live more effectively. When you sit down to read the Bible pray, “Lord, help me to understand.” Also ask someone who has been reading the Bible for a while help you to understand better. *there are times I’ve called my pastor to ask him questions). You will also find ways to understand the Bible online. Matthew Henry, David Guzik are a couple I listen to.

4. Become Involved In A Local Bible-Believing Church And Seek Friendships With Christ Followers.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage on another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.

Hebrews 10:25

We are not meant to follow Jesus alone, but we gain help and encouragement from other believers. When you join with other believers regularly they will be there to help and support you, and you can do the same.

When you go to church regularly you not only have a fantastic hookup with God, but also His followers.

5. Forgive Others

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.

Luke 6:37

People will hurt us… a lot. Forgiving doesn’t mean forget. It means turning it over to God allowing Him to handle the si. God doesn’t take sin lightly, trust that.

6. Live Your Life With Thankfulness, Not Complaining

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation,’

Philippians 2;14

When we spend our days thanking God for almost we have, instead of complaining about what we don’t have, everything changes, starting with our attitude and our view on life. We will notice the difference in our attitude during the day and others will, too.

7. Pray All The Time

Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Praying without ceasing simply means when you’re thinking about something over and over, it’s a good sign that it’s something you need to pray about. Ask God to help the situation and give you wisdom on how to handle it.

8. Love Others

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in ever but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

When we love others as God asks us to they benefit and we do too.

9. Care For The Widows And Orphans

Religion thatGod our Father accepts aspire and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world

James 1:27

A symbol of being a Christian is not doing all you can to take care of oneself, but doing all you can to take care of others.

These things don’t sound easy, do they? The truth is that everything God asks us to do is impossible unless we turn to Him and ask Him for help and strength. if you want to obey God in these ways, ask Him to help you. We cannot live as a Christ follower in our own strength.

The fact is if you decide to do what God asks of you. There is nothing more satisfying and that will leave you in awe than God answering your prayers. Because you are doing what He asked you do all along.

Ways You Hold Yourself Back And Ways To Fix It

Do you ever hear about someone’s success and wonder how they got there? Do you sometimes feel like you’re on the outside looking in?

There’s a popular quote that says, It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think your not.

If you took the time to asked 5 of your friends for feedback on why you hold yourself back, they would probably have a different opinion.

For most of us, fulfillment and contentment are more available than we realize. But without first acknowledging the roadblocks within, we may wind up feeling like we’re just spinning our wheels.

Below are a few common obstacles culprits in feeling stuck, and how to handle them.

You Are Your Own Worst Enemy

Do you criticize yourself constantly? Stop it. It’s easier said than done though right?

The truth is, that thoughts, even unconscious ones, are not set in stone and can be changed. Keep a daily journal for at least two weeks, preferably in the morning when you first wake up and start to take notice how you speak to yourself.

Ask yourself, if you would speak to a small child the way you speak to yourself. Would that child then go running into the world to take on life’s challenges with courage and enthusiasm? Or would she/he sit in the corner wondering what’s the point of trying?

Once you can see for yourself how you berate and criticize yourself, you can start practicing more positive thoughts.

Are You A People Pleaser?

It’s not necessary to make sure everyone around you is happy all the time. In fact when you speak up for yourself and stay true to your needs, people will respect you for it that much more.

While many of us need to be liked, it’s also essential to understand that if you have if you have people-pleasing tendencies, you may feel you don’t deserve to live your life as you want to. If you’re a giver and not a taker, it may feel awkward at first to remind yourself that you deserve happiness and fulfillment.

Play with the idea on a smaller scale, like if your mean didn’t come out as you ordered it at a restaurant, let the server know, rather than eating something that was not prepared the way you ordered it. And then build yourself up to the bigger things like asking for a raise or promotion.

Are You Engaging In All–Or-Nothing Thinking?

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that if one thing doesn’t go your way, that’s just how it’s going to be in every area of life. But that’s simply not true. We all encounter challenges in life, and sometimes they may seem insurmountable.

Think about the right now theory. Did you sleep through your alarm, or forget to grab lunch? Did you lose your wallet? Rather than assuming this is how your whole year is going to be, consider telling yourself that this is how it is right now, it will get better.

Take the phrase “This is how it is right now, it will not last that long” into any negative all-or-nothing thought so you can accept how things are in the moment, and still remind yourself that this moment m as every moment will pass.

Are You Putting Yourself Through Negative Thought Loops?

As you begin to take more notice of your negative thoughts see if you can pick out the repeat offender. Then ask yourself, “Who does this remind me of?” Once you begin to understand how you came to this way of thinking, you can start to make serious changes.

Are You Afraid Of Failure?

We’ve all felt it, no matter what level of success we’ve achieved. When you feel that fear coming on and it’s hindering you from the risks necessary for you to achieve your goals, try “reality testing” your fear. Play out the worst-case scenario in your head.

Often when you really look at what is the worst thing that can happen, you realize that yes, maybe you’ll lose a little money or time, or even worse, feel embarrassed or take a bruise to your ego. But you might also find that even in the worst-case scenario, you’ll not recover, but you’ll have learned about yourself, and be one step closer to fulfilling your dreams.

Givers, Takers, And Matchers

You’re at lunch with a friend who’s looking for a job. They tell you they’re integrin a company where your college friend works. You haven’t spoken to your friend in a few years. What do you do?

1, Tekk your friend you’ll make the introduction.

2. Tell your friend you’ll make the introduction, and then ask then for help with your own issue

3. Tell your friend you don’t feel comfortable making the introduction since you’re no longer in touch with your college friend.

Your answer to this question will reflect your “reciprocity style,” which is the way you approach interactions with others. According to the author of Give and Take, Adam Grant there are three different types of reciprocity types: givers, takers, and matches.

Givers, Takers, And Matchers

What’s the difference between these types?

Takers are self-focused and put their own interests ahead of others’ needs. They try to gain as much as possible in their interaction while contributing as little as they can in return.

Matches like to preserve an equal balance of giving and taking. Their mindset is: “If you take from me, ill take from you, if you give to me, I’ll give to you.”

Givers are others-focused and tend to provide support to others with no strings attached. They ask themselves, ‘ How can I add value to this person? What can I contribute?

So what type are you? It turns out most people hover in the middle and behave as matches, answering option 2 above (I’ll introduce you to my college friend, but I need help from you).

Humans have an innate tendency to be reciprocal, and givers and takers represent two extremes.

But while givers are the most generous in our society, matches play an important role. They make sure what goes around, comes around. They reward givers for their generous behavior and seem revenge when they or others, are being mistreated.

Givers, Takers, And Matchers At Work

Guess which of these types is the most successful at work,

It turns our, givers tend to be the worst performers. They are at a disadvantage across a wide range of occupations because they sacrifice their own success to help others succeed, according to Grant’s research.

So that must mean takers or matches are the top performers, right? Not exactly.

It’s the givers again.

Yes, you read that right. The worst performers at work are others-focused, and matchers tend to land in the middle.

Why is that? Since takers develop reputations for putting others last, matches tend to return the favor and try and knock them down, research shows. That’s why takers rarely succeed in building strong relationships and networks.

On the other hand, matches root for givers to succeed, since they tend to match good deeds with good deeds. Everyone loves, trusts, and supports givers since they add value to others and enrich the success of the people around them.

In short, givers succeed because their giving leads to quality relationships, which benefit them in the long run. With such strong relationships, it’s no wonder givers are also happier people then takers.

But wait, back up. If being a giver creates stronger relationships (and makes you happier), why are some givers at the bottom of the success ladder, while others are at the top?

Selfless Givers VS Otherish Givers

There are two types of givers: “selfless” givers and “otherish” givers.

Selfless givers, as you may have guessed, are the ones who drop everything to help people all the time, which means they tend to fall behind on their own work. Therefore, they usually end up at the bottom of the success ladder (though they’re still happier people than takers),

On the other hand, otherish givers are smart and strategic about their giving. While they’re just as much givers as selfless giverzm they’ve learned to successfully navigate a world of matches and takers, so others don’t take advantage of them

Maybe you asking yourself what steps can I take so I become a giver. After all, being a successful giver comes with many perks; stronger relationships, increased happiness, and better performance at work.

Here are some tricks and tools that successful givers have up their sleeves to help others while avoiding burnout.

5 – Minute Favors

What to do:

Do other people small donors that take no more than 5 minutes – like making an intro, giving feedback, offering advice,

Why it works:

5 – m8nute favors are those small yet impactful favors you do for others that only take a few minutes. Doing these quick favors for a co-worker or friend can go a long way in strengthening your relationships.

Ask For Help

What to do:

Ask a friend or co-worker for help on an issue you’re having, without taking up too much of their time.

Why it works:

While asking for help doesn’t sound like a quintessential giver move doing so comes with some surprising benefits. It gives then the opportunity to be a giver, but also makes them feel good and smart.

One of the best ways to build strong relationships is to seek advice, because it creates meaningful opportunities in your life, and you feel fulfilled by it.

Give All At Once

What to do:

Devote a particular day or part of a day each week to helping people out.

Why it works:

There are two ways to give: you can sprinkle random acts of kindness throughout your week, or chuck all of your giving acts into one day. Which is most effective? The chunking, research actually shows it leaves you with a bigger psychological boost of feeling appreciation and meaningless, which will motivate you to continue being a giver.

Specialize In Favors

What to do:

Pick one or two way of helping that you enjoy and excel at, rather than being a jack of all trades.

Why it works:

This way, you can help in a way that energizes you instead, of exhausting you. This will allow you to gain a reputation as a person with particular expertise you’re willing to share, rather that as a nice person who is freely available.

People won’t come to you for favors that don’t fit these skills.

Keep An Eye Out For Takers

What to do:

Spot takers early, based on reputation and past experience, and only help them if they like you.

Why it works:

Takers like to milk givers for favors, because of the giver’s reputation. To avoid this, take on the mentality of a matcher. In other words, if a taker asks for help, say “sure, I’ll help you if you agree to help me with something else in return.”

Give, Give, Give!

Practice these tips and tricks, and you’ll be a successful giver in to time. But the keys to being a successful giver is also being an authentic giver. The less you try to give to get, the more you’ll succeed.

Prepare Your Mind: The Battle For Shalom

The spiritual battle believers are fighting is the battlefield of the mind. We can prepare to combat Satan’s lies by comparing them to God’s truth as revealed in the Bible.

Prior to Jesus’s statement about the abundant life in John 10:10, he says that Satan is a “thief who comes only to steal kill and destroy.” Jesus is pointing out that Satan will do everything he can to keep you as a believer from experiencing the life of shalom. How? By temping you to believe his lies.

The Lies

Sing is a great deceiver, and deception is his primary weapon. He’s tempted Eve in the Garden with lies (Genesis 3:1-4); He unsuccessfully tempted Jesus in the wilderness with lies (Matthew 4:1-11).; and today Satan is attempting to deceive the whole world with lies (Revelation 12:9). The battle for Shalom is spiritual warfare – It is four and one on the battlefield of the mind, in your thoughts.

If you read Genesis 3:1-4, Matthew 4:1-11, Revelation 12:9, You will read the highlights and the lies of Satan.

The Battle

Apostle Paul rights that every believer is engage in a spiritual battle:

“ put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the rulers against the authorities against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places (Ephesians 6:11-12).

If you read Ephesians 6:10-20, you see the preparation and prayers for the battle.

The Ongoing Struggle

It is important to remember that Jesus has conquered the devil and his army of fallen angels (Colossians 2:15), but it is also true that Satan is still active in the world.

Peter writes: ‘Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring Lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5-8). Satan attempt to devour believers through deception and views with shame and fear.

You sound upset and character by saying: “He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

Therefore, the spiritual church battle believers are fighting is on the battlefield of the mind, combating Satan’s lies with God’s truth.

The Truth

I’m not a sexy way to fight against these lies if you compare them to God‘s truth is revealed in the Bible. Paul refers to this tactic is taking your thoughts captive to Christ:

The weapons our warfare or not of the flesh but how divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge the of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Comparing Satan’s lies to God truth in the Bible will prevent them from taking root and becoming a stronghold in your mind.

Prayer:

God, give me your power and strength as I prepare my mind and spirit for the battle against the deception of Satan for the battle against the deception of Satan. Thank you that Jesus has conquered the evil one and that your Holy Spirit is with me.

What Is Shalom? The True Meaning

There’s an ancient Hebrew concept of peace. Rooted from the word “shalom,” but it dines not only mean peace – there is so much more. It means wholeness, completeness, soundness, health, safety, and prosperity and it carries with the implication of permanence.

Shalom And Peace

Peace! Peace! Peace! Every body’s for it. No body is against it. But what is that very elusive quality we call peace? For it means different things to different people.

  • Peace is what those who follow Eastern religions and say it only comes through the obliberation of the individual personality; becoming a part of the Universe with no awareness of self. But they really mean serenity.
  • Peace is what that elderly neighbor wants when the teenager across the street is practicing on their drums.
  • Peace is what the shopkeeper wants when their worried about paying the bills. They really mean that they’d like there store to be busy and bustling with customers. Peace to them means prosperity.
  • The patient waiting anxiously in the doctor’s office to be told the results of the lab tests wants peace. They really want good health.

At the most extreme, some, like Hitler, peace results from killing people- at least it means killing to attain their kind of peace.

When we don’t have what we think we should have, we say we need peace.

Peace Cannot Be Determined By Our Own Biased Viewpoints or selfish needs

Defining Peace

“Peace” is oftentimes defined as the condition of life that should be. But who has the right to determine what should be and what shouldn’t be? If all of us could get the kind of peace we wanted, it would be an imposed peace. It would be peace at the expense of someone else’s dream of what peace should be. Peace cannot be determined by our own biased viewpoints or selfish needs. Nor can our standard for peace be set by the norm of our turbulent society. So where can we look, if not to ourselves or society? How do we set up criteria for defining “peace?”

Webster’s definition centers are two major themes. One deals with the cessation of hostilities. The other focuses on the freedom from inner turmoil, better known as peace of mind.

We can look at the outworking of these two themes by seeing how two distinct cultures interpret peace. The word, as common,y used in English, comes from the Latin word “pax.” Pax to the Romans meant cessation of hostilities between the conquers and the vanquished. The peace was alway temporary because it depended on who was in the position of strength. (Which is how the World is operating today).

The Difference Between “Peace” And Shalom

One can dictate a peace; Shalom is a mutual agreement. Peace is a temporary pact treaty: Shalom is the condition of peace. Peace can be negative, the absence of commotion. Shalom is positive, the presence of serenity. Peace can be partial; Shalom is whole. Peace can be determined by circumstances; Shalom is complete.

God Of Peace

God’s name is peace and is bound together in peace.

Peace is a positive thing, the essential means by which men of differing temperaments and opinions can work together for the common good. Pearls of individual virtue would be dim in isolation were it not for the string of peace that binds them together and so increases their luster. That is why peace in a name of God for it is He who gives unity to the whole creation.

Zohar

God’s Shalom

The criteria for Shalom, true peace, then rests with God. The definition of peace must begin with the assumption that there is a Creator and that He has established a standard for us. Hence, there must come an acceptance (at least for the understanding of this post) of the way in which God has chosen to reveal Himself to man – through the Bible.

Shalom In The Bible

The first example of peace in the Bible is the condition that existed in the beginning in the Garden of Eden. There is good reason to believe the Genesis account of creation, but even if you do believe it literally, the message still demonstrates a lesson of peace.

Adam And Eve Disobeyed And The Shalom Of God Was Lost For Them

Adam and Eve were at peace with God and all He created. Their needs were supplied. They did not suffer hunger, disease or pain of any kind. Beauty surrounded them so they could experience and enjoy it. They weren’t lonely they had each other, and more importantly, they had an intimate relationship with God. If any people ever experienced peace it was Adam and Eve. The only condition of peace existed in the Garden on,y as long as they were obedient to God’s will. Unfortunately, they disobeyed and the Shalom of God was lost.

Shalom In The Old Testament

If through Adam and Eve we see that peace was lost through disobedience, in Abraham we see the opposite:

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he told his servants to stay behind and he set out for the place God had to,d him about.”

Genesis 22:2-3

It seems beyond the comprehension to follow such instructions at all, let alone to do it without anger, anxiety or despair. But Abraham obeyed God. He recognized that God had the right to require Isaac’s life if He chose. This trust and reliance in the One who created him made it possible for Abraham to have peace of mind, even when all his natural senses much have told him otherwise.

Adam and Eve could not follow a simple rule God had set for then. As a result they were banished from the Garden. The cynic will lament. “I have tried to make right things happen. I’ve worked abs I’ve hoped, but everyone eventually disappoints me. You say I should hope in God? It’s like asking me to trust in the tooth fairy! How can I believe in a supernatural being?”

This lack of trust in an almighty God is reflected in the story of a 9-year old boy returning from a Hebrew school who tells his mother about the day’s lesson.

The young boy told his mother about: the rabbi that told how God sent Moses behind the enemy lines ti rescue the Israeli from the Egyptians. When they came to the Red Sea, Moses called for the engineers to understand a pontoon bridge. . After they had all crossed, they looked back and saw the Egyptian tank coming. Quick as a flash Moses radioed headquarters on his walk-in-talkies to sent in the bombers to destroy the bridge, and that’s how he saved the Israelites.

His mother, astounded, said to the boy., “Son, is that really the way the rabbi told that story?”

“Well, not exactly, Mom. But if I told it his way you’d never have believed it!”

The story was humorous because it’s all too true. When things are bigger than our own life experience, we “translate” them into what we consider to be understandable dimensions. The danger in doing this is that when we translate God’s acts, we are by our limited understanding, diminishing who God is. We diminish the possibility of peace in our lives because we diminish the One who has the power to give us peace.

Attaining Peace

Peace, lasting peace, transcends the situation and flaws of our own personal lives because it doesn’t come from us. It comes from God. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “You will keep in perfect peace who mind is steadfast, because he rust in you. Trust the Lord forever, for the Lord, is the Rock forever” (Isaiah 26:3-4). Trusting God means recognizing Him and giving Him His rightful place in our lives. We are not in a position to attain peace ourselves.

We are however, in a place to choose peace. I believe that Jesus came to be an agent of that peace God promises (Isaiah 9:6-7) by first giving us the Opportunity to be reconciled with God. And I believe it is possible to experience all the qualities of Shalom that God promises – wholeness, completeness, soundness, health, safety, when we look to Him.

I wish you Shalom Peace