Fruit of the Spirit - Peace

I love Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Rarely is there an episode that I watch that the floodgates of tears don't flow out. I'm not afraid to admit it as I'm sure I'm not alone.

But, why is it that so many people cry while watching this show? I believe it is because we are moved as we witness the Extreme Makeover crew go from house to house trying to improve lives by rebuilding homes of people in need. It is a great show of compassion and community support. It is amazing to see what people working together can do for a family in a week. Just as amazing is seeing the look on the family's faces as they walk through their new house! Their lives are now forever changed because of the generousity and compassion of others.

In 1 Corinthians 3:16 it says, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"

1. When you think of being "God's temple", what do you think of?
2. What does it mean that God's spirit lives in you?
3. How should we live our lives if we are God's temple with God's spirit living in us?

When we come into a relationship with God, He is with and in us. How great is that! But, just as great as that is, it can be very challenging as well. Think about it, as God's temple/house, we are representing Him in all that we do and say. Think about your day. Have you represented God positively in all that you have done or said today?

So, how does this apply to PEACE at all???? Here's how - when we are in Christ, we are a new creation. Our old self is gone (2 Corinthians 5:17)! To bring in our new self so that we can represent Christ best (as his temple/house), we need to put on characteristics found in the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Peace is one of those characteristics that we can clothe ourselves with as we attempt to represent Christ.

John Stott said, "Now peacemaking is a divine work.  For peace means reconciliation, and God is the author of peace and of reconciliation".  If we want to have peace in our lives, it starts with reconciling relationships.  First, with God and then with others.  God demonstrated his desire for peace by reconciling our relationship with him by sending his son, Jesus, to die for us.

Application:

As we talked on Sunday, the application for the week is two-fold:

1. Ask God to search your heart for relationships in your life that are not at peace – relationships that are not reconciled right now.
2. Then, seek to reconcile any relationship that God puts on our heart. BUT, do not do it by yourself! Ask God to make known to you how you should do this.

Remember, as John Stott said, “God is the author of peace and of reconciliation.” Who better to lead you in reconciliation with another person than the author and perfecter of it?!?

As 1 Corinthians 3:16 says, we are God's temple. Let's be striving to represent Christ in all that we do and say this week. Whether you are able to reconcile relationships with others or not this week, represent Christ in such a way that people can see your deeds and praise God.

Pray that God would search your heart for any relationships that needs mending in your life and that he would give you the wisdom to know how to reconcile.

Relying on the Lord's ability

As we talked on Sunday, Moses had to put his fears and doubts and trust in the Lord.  He had to trust God because God had called him to do a mighty work, yet he felt unqualified for the work.

We are all unqualified for the work God calls us to, but if we trust and remain faithful to Him, he will guide and direct us.

The challenge Moses had to lead the Israelites out of Egypt wasn't the last time Moses needed to rely on God.  Read Exodus 17:1-7.  

1. What was the complaint of the Israelites?
2. According to v. 5, how mad where they at Moses?
3. What did Moses do?
4. How did God respond?

Moses was definitely put into a difficult position.  He was the leader of the Israelites and as leader, you hear the good and the bad (often the bad).  So, Moses do when he was faced with this tough situation?  He turned to God and relied on God's ability to do what needed to be done.

Application

When faced in tough or difficult situations, do you turn to God as Moses did and rely on Him to help?  Or do you, like I do more times than not, turn to myself and see how I can get the job done.

1 Peter 5:7 says to "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  

He will take care of you and provide for you for you.  He desires to do that!  What we have to do is to turn to him, seek him, and ask him for direction.

This week, seek him and turn to him to provide for you and see how God works in the midst of that!

Spend some time praying that for some things right now on your mind that you could turn over to God.