Fixed on Jesus

June 6

"Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody." Romans 12:18

CHOOSE PEACE TODAY

"The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest" (Exodus 14:14).

In life, you're always going to have critics. There will always be difficult people who try to upset you and steal your peace and joy. But, you don't have to respond to every critic. You can decide to take the high road and let God fight your battles for you.

Sometimes, no matter what you say or do, there are people who aren't going to accept you. They just don't want to be at peace with you. In fact, when Jesus sent out His disciples to certain homes, He told them to always speak peace over those homes. And then He said, in effect, "If they don't receive the peace that you're offering, then it will come back to you."

That tells me, if you will do your best to be at peace with people, even if they won't take your peace, the good news is that peace will just come back to you. You'll not only get your peace, but you'll get their share as well! That's double for your trouble! When you do the right thing no matter what is happening, God sees it and rewards it. So choose peace today and walk in the blessing He has for you! -- Dr. Timothy Emerick

Emerick’s observation is accurate—there are people who simply prefer contention and strife to peace, and they will refute our efforts to abide with them in harmony. Emerick’s outcome of this situation is one we may not see immediately, for the Lord indeed unfolds His rewards at His own pace, but, as the Word promises, “…they shall surely come,” Habakkuk 2:3.

At the same time, the Word promises that, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,” Isaiah 54:15-17.

Our part is to prefer the presence, the power, the love, the approval of the Lord Jesus Christ more than we desire the approval of men (see John 12:42, 43.) We must always have our sights set on the abiding things of heaven rather than on the fleeting things of earth.

If we do not maintain our eyes fixed on Jesus, we will be allured by temporal enticements. If we allow ourselves to be turned from the Lord and all He’s provided for us to the momentary treasures of earth we will disappoint ourselves, not only as we walk this Vale of Tears but also as we face eternity.