Broken Bread 3

Day Four: Marked by PEACE                                       May 9, 2016 
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"Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, 
sealed with this inscription: 
"The Lord knows those who are His," and, 
"Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord 
must turn away from wickedness." 
(2 Timothy 2:19) 
Day Four Devotions:
 
MORNING MEDITATION

 THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS
   
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." 
- Matthew 5:5   
  
When Jesus began His earthly ministry He preached a counter-cultural message that challenged the people and brought criticism from the religious leaders of His day.  He came from heaven and opened the ears, eyes, hearts, and minds of the people to the righteous ways of God.  He wanted the people to see sin from God's perspective, and to mourn and weep over the ruin that sin brings to our lives.  Sin robs, kills, and destroys.  It seeks to take the lives of our children beginning in the womb, and chases after them all the days of their lives.  As believers, we are to despise sin and its destruction, but we must seek to remedy it the way God does.  "Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord.  Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street" (Lamentations 2:19).

Jesus stood before the people as their remedy.  The people wanted an earthly warrior, conqueror, and king, but Jesus came to battle for our hearts, to conqueror the flesh, and to reign in our lives.  His life was a living example of the meekness, gentleness, and submissiveness that God expects from His children.  In meekness He submitted to the will of the Father, and was gentle in His treatment of men.  Jesus was meek, but He was in no way weak.  "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29).  Meekness is not weakness, it is power under control.  Those who are meek may be weak in themselves, but they are strong in the Lord.  They have submitted to God and given Him full control to reign in their lives. When provoked, those who are meek are not easily angered; they remain silent or respond with a soft word; just like Jesus did (1 Peter 2:23).  "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" (Proverbs 15:1).  They despise sin so much that they will not do anything to cause anyone to sin or allow themselves to be a stumbling block in anyone's path to Christ.

The meek are blessed because they bear the meekness of Jesus Christ, and are able to walk on this earth as people completely in heaven.  They always strive to present the humble and gentle qualities of Christ wherever they go, and work to prepare the way so that others will be edified and built up.  They live in the blessed state of heaven on earth and experience great peace.  "But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace" (Psalm 37:11).  As we continue to lay out our hearts before the Lord these ten days, asking Him to show us what areas He does not have full possession of, let us pray that He would break in us anything that is not under His complete control, so that we can be included in that believing remnant that He is raising up in the land, "the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the LORD" (Zephaniah 3:12). 

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AFTERNOON PRAYER
 
Click on the clay pot to listen to the afternoon prayer:


A prayer for the believing remnant of the meek, and
the blessings of peace they bring.

"Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. 
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:4-7)

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EVENING DEVOTION

EVERYONE WHO CONFESSES THE NAME OF THE LORD
MUST TURN AWAY FROM WICKEDNESS
AND PURSUE...PEACE   
 
The fruit of the Spirit is PEACE
(Galatians 5:22)



The Pharisees in Jesus' day lived by an exhaustive list of rules and regulations.  They placed impossible burdens upon the people, which they could not adhere to; and they did nothing to offer the people any help.  Jesus came bearing a message that called the people to focus on the positive blessings of inner graces rather than negative consequences of external laws; and He also would provide the means for them to achieve this higher and holier standard of life which would bring blessing to them and all the people around them.  Jesus offered the people a new way of living.  He came to bring new life, a righteous life that did not depend on man's laws, but on the gift of God's grace.  He would enable all who believe to no longer walk after the flesh, but to walk in newness of life, through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit  

The fruit of the Spirit is peace.  The peace that God gives is a positive state of well-being.  It is spiritual wholeness and health that grows out of love and joy.  "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.  I do not give as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John  14:27). Those who live a meek and humble life acknowledge their dependence on the goodness and grace of God, and as a result they experience the peace of God in their lives and produce it through their lives for others.  The peace of God is a blessed state of undisturbed rest and joy with ourselves, with others, and with God.  There are people all around us who are starving for the fruit of love, joy and peace that is being produced in our lives.  Let us pray for God to bring into our lives those who lack the blessings that we have been given, so we can share our spiritual food with them and lead them to the blessings of salvation, joy and peace in Jesus Christ.  "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26).  
 
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