Peace Like A River

This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.
If only you had paid attention to my commands,
your peace would have been like a river,
    your well-being like the waves of the sea.”" (Isa 48:17-18 NIV)

The hymn "When Peace Like a River" or "All Is Well With My Soul" is one of my favorite hymns.  Not long before Horatio G. Spafford wrote this hymn in 1873, his four daughters had died in a collision with another ship as they crossed the Atlantic. His wife had survived and sent him this message, "Saved alone." Later, as he, himself, crossed the Atlantic and neared the spot where his daughters had died, he was inspired to write this hymn.

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul."

The LORD, in His mercy has taught us that no matter what befalls us, it can be well with our soul. All who abide in Christ will know the peace that only He can give.

 

Today, Isaiah reminds us that we are to turn from following after false gods, and to trust in the LORD, our God, and all will be well with our soul. Our peace will be like a river. But, for those who turn their backs on Him, there will be no peace. “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

When will we turn from our stubborn, stiffnecked ways to live in peace? To live wholly for and in Christ? "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.  For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." (Eph 2:14-18)

And... all is well with my soul! May it be well with your's.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Thou Shalt Not Kill!

The Fifth Commandment.

Thou shalt not kill.

What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not hurt nor harm our neighbor in his body, but help and befriend him in every bodily need [in every need and danger of life and body].

(http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php)

 

Many years ago, while we were living in Rota, Spain, a young Marine was released from Spanish prison. His crime had been that he had witnessed a taxi cab driver being beaten and he had not gone to his aid.

 

So many times witnesses to crimes will not only not aid the victim; they do not even have the courage or integrity to come forward as witnesses so that the suspect can be duly prosecuted. We don't like to make enemies. We may fear for our own safety or we might think that the crime was justified or maybe we just don't care; so we do nothing.

 

We learn that the fifth commandment goes beyond commanding us to not personally kill anyone; but, that we are to befriend and even defend those who are in any danger.

 

May God help us to love enough to be willing to step forward and help and befriend our neighbors in every need.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J