HEART SOVEREIGNTY
Philippians 4:4-9
God’s peace “passeth understanding,” but it does not pass appreciation. It’s too deep for our brains, but not for our hearts. It can’t be analyzed and explained, but it can be accepted, and yielded to, and enjoyed. You don’t get it; it gets you. It does sentinel duty over your thoughts and imaginations, keeping worry out and trust and obedience in. Paul’s threefold rule of peace is simple: Worry about nothing; pray about everything; be thankful for anything.
THE JESUS MUSIC
Mark 7:31-37
Some things can’t be hid. Jesus couldn’t be. Music can’t. The sweet peace of God in the heart can’t be hushed up. The face tells it—the quiet eye, the glad smile, the gentle word. The step has a spring to it. The hand does its work differently. And those we’re touching know it, too. Sometimes it irritates them; the inner smothered conscience hurls. This is the chiefest plan for winning men to Jesus—having his peace rule our hearts.
2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Think about these questions as you meditate on the verse. What does this verse teach me? How does this verse apply to my Life?
BRINGING THE MASTER BACK
Psalms 147:1-5, Psalms 147:14-18
Whenever our Lord Jesus comes back, there’ll be peace in the world’s borders, and not before. “He maketh wars to cease.” The hurt of the earth will be healed. The tangle of the world will be smoothed out. The bitterness and bickerings will stop, and the hot fires of hate and self-seeking be put out. The earth will yield unprecedented harvests. We can hasten the glad day by letting him reign in our lives in today’s common round.
THE MASTER MUSICIAN
Mark 5:1-15
When Jesus takes command he brings peace. The storms must cease—storms of passion and temper. The prisoner is set free. His chains are broken—chains of selfishness and anxiety. Jesus’ clear voice rings out, “Peace, be still,” and there’s a great calm. Like the sweet cadences of music runs the phrase through the Book, “fear not.” Let us put Jesus in command, and obey him fully, and we shall know an inner quiet, greater even than the word “peace” expresses.
KEEPING IN TUNE
Mark 4:35-41
Rhythm of sound is music. Rhythm of color is beauty. Rhythm of action is peace and power. Peace within, deep as the sea, still as the stars, fragrant as locust blossoms in May, as undisturbable as the everlasting hills. Jesus made peace by the Cross. We find peace as we stay in full rhythmic touch with him. Let’s keep in step with Jesus. Then we shall know the inner music of peace, and others will feel the fragrant touch of power.
