Peace and righteousness.
Psalm 119:161-168 CSB – 161 Princes have persecuted me without cause, but my heart fears only your word. 162 I rejoice over your promise like one who finds vast treasure. 163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your instruction. 164 I praise you seven times a day for your righteous judgments. 165 Abundant peace belongs to those who love your instruction; nothing makes them stumble. 166 LORD, I hope for your salvation and carry out your commands. 167 I obey your decrees and love them greatly. 168 I obey your precepts and decrees, for all my ways are before you.
Rebellion and disobedience breeds chaos. And we were all in rebellion against God. The Fall brought chaos and pain. No lasting peace.
The children of Israel were in a national state of rebellion against God’s law for so long. Chaos. War. Captivity. Famine. Oppression.
Isaiah 48:17-18 CSB – 17 This is what the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who leads you in the way you should go. 18 If only you had paid attention to my commands. Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
God had a plan. This plan went so much further than a baby in a manger. God’s plan was to bring peace into this broken world. . . .
Isaiah 53:3-6 CSB – 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. 4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. 6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the LORD has punished him for the iniquity of us all.
Jesus willingly subjected himself to such violence and chaos for my peace.
Romans 5:1 CSB – 1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
My response to this overwhelming grace . . .accept Christ’s payment on the cross for my sin. Understand that Christ took all the punishment for my rebellion so that I could have peace with God. Love God’s instruction; pay attention to his commands.
Live in shalom, that settled attitude of mind that knows that God is in control, in spite of circumstances. . . .
Plea for Grace 