May 28, 2011 Peace Be Wtthin You

Peace Be Within You
Read Psalms 122-124

Ps 122:8 For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.”

HOW’S YOUR church? Is there peace within its walls? Is there peace within its people? That is God’s desire. How does this kind of peace develop within hearts and within the church?
Peace comes when we focus on the One who has built the church and brought his people into the church. In Jerusalem’s history, God brought his people within its walls to protect them from physical harm and to be in community to worship him. God’s hand created the city, and God’s grace filled their hearts to worship him. When Jerusalem’s leaders such as David would seek God and pray for his presence there, the city was at peace.
When other leaders came to rule Judah, and they disobeyed God, the city was often at war with other nations.. Individual hearts sought their own desires. There was no peace within the walls and within the hearts.
In your church, are you and other leaders (yes, everyone is a leader of faith in some way) seeking God. Do you credit him for creating your church? Do you praise him for filling your hearts?
When you purposefully seek God’s will, respond in faith to his will and praise him in your church, you will find his peace. Yes, challenges and heartache will occur. But underlying any turmoil will be God’s peace within you.
God shows that time and time again in the Bible. He has shown to his faithful followers through the centuries. And God’s peace is for you. Pray that the Spirit will give you peace within you today.


Pause and Consider: how good it is to be at peace.