The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Prince (of Peace)"
Our spiritual enemies ever seek to discourage us. Our Heavenly Father ever works to counter their attacks on our confidence by pointing us to the presence and working of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives.
"Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:3).
Upon first consideration, we might think the writer of Hebrews directs attention to the Lord Jesus as an example to follow when facing challenge. Certainly, our Savior does provide a model - the model - for enduring hardship. However, merely providing a pattern for how to overcome temptations to discouragement would not begin to suffice in leading us to peace. The Lord Jesus also serves as the power of our faith and faithfulness - "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). That which God calls believers to do proceeds from that which He motivates and empowers by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13).
Unlike Pharaoh, who commanded the Israelites to make bricks without straw, God provides infinitely abundant provision in Christ for a walk with Him in peace and faithfulness. This we must believe, first because it is true. We also recognize that our awareness and experience of our Heavenly Father's provision flows upon the current of our chosen confidence. "As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee" (Matthew 8:13). Vast measures of grace for overcoming discouragement exist within the spirit of every believer in the Person of the indwelling Christ. We must believe such provision to be available within us in order to experience the power thereof. Peace aplenty ever abides for the believer, as accessed by "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith," and as we "consider Him lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."
Living by faith greatly challenges us in countless ways. The Apostle Paul rightly referred to our walk as "the good fight of faith" (I Timothy 6:12). Evil entities ever seek to discourage us by tempting us look away from the Lord Jesus rather than unto Him. Let us get our spiritual dander up when feeling discouraged. The issue involves far more than merely human feeling and sensation. Somebody seeks to divert our gaze from the Christ who so perfectly exemplified what it means to walk by faith. However, He did so much more. He does so much more. The Prince of peace serves as the power of our peace. We fight the good fight and overcome discouragement by fixing the gaze of our hearts on the promise of the prophet, the Prince now dwelling with and within us as the enabler of our confident assurance…
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee."
(Isaiah 26:3)
"Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:6-7)
Weekly Memory Verse
"Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."
(Hebrews 12:3)
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