James 3:17-18 ~ make peace

James 3:17-18

The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, tells us in the Gospel, He is open each day to the willingness of God. Jesus' work schedule is determined by the Father and God sends Jesus across the Sea of Galilee 3 times one day with full intentionality.




Acts 8:26-40

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went.

And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”

30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”


34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.




This is a time of year, where many believers have someone they care about, who has gone to Church for Easter Sunday. We have experienced this in my family. The Word of the Lord came to my dear loved one and he heard about many trials would be resolved and he would become a Pastor. He is going off to law school. His friend was told he would be enabled by the Lord to do school quite soon. His friend goes off to Harvard for the MBA Program in the fall. We are in the time of the New Covenant. Those who, with sincerity, proclaim Jesus, are doing His work.

What will we do for those who dabble and wither after Easter? We will think about the advice of men proclaiming the Gospel who had to run for their lives from their 'failures'. Those persecuted for having faith. Those who have the fire of the Holy Spirit and persevered. For those lowly men are recognized today for their faith and their persecutors have vanished.

And what was their Biblical advice? Persevere. Love. Faith. Hope. Joy. See what is good. Rebuke what is wrong, rarely. With courage. Speak the truth and believe Jesus is the Truth. Who is your Neighbor? The one who treats you with mercy. Do not grieve as one with no hope. Persist in prayer. Do not cast pearls before swine. The Seed Parables are the seasons of life. Do not believe in your ability to determine what season will remain. Believe in prayer when fruit is unseen. Go where Jesus is the way, the life and the truth. Whatever is noble, whatever is pure. Set your mind there.

My Grandmother Anita prayed, seemingly unheeded for her son. She saw from Heaven in his 70's "The Purpose Driven Life" would be a key for Jesus to dwell within her son. And my grandmother did not spread copious tears for her son who hated and loathed Christians, instead she believed and stayed in her belief. Anita did not sigh and say what horrors God would have to bring on her son to make him a believer. Did he face horrors? He did not. One Sunday he wanted to hear a message, and the Lord Jesus gave him 'ears to hear'. Grandmother Anita was a worrier and, yet, she just simply believed her son would know the love and salvation of Jesus. And he did.




Abba,

Who sits at the right hand of Jesus God, where John and James argued over? I would venture a guess this would be Mary, Mother of Jesus. She gave strong action to save Jesus. And at the table Joseph, who saved Jesus and made a family that blended as one family.

Mary tells us about the treasures of her heart in the Christmas Gospel of Luke 2. We can just as lovingly place the ones we love in the Treasures of Father God's heart.

Knowing our Abba is God of Love. God of Steadfast Encouragement. And we will will stay with our Jesus in conversation and hopes. And this night smile knowing we have pleased the Father of Jesus, our Father. Lord over all. God of God. King of Kings. And Father God lifts His smile upon us and we have peace being covered with Jesus Christ Victorious

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever

Always Alleluia in Jesus God. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †