Prayer: Father, You bring peace wherever You are. Yeshua brought peace wherever He went. The Holy Spirit brings peace to anyone who asks or receives. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 120-121 key: vs. 6-7
6 My soul has too long dwelt
with those who hate shalom.
7 I am for shalom and thus I speak,
but they are for war!
Attention: I attended a rally for a local Pregnancy Crisis Center this morning. The Center is located kitty corner from a Planned Parenthood (PP) location. A local pastor spoke and across the street on the other three corners PP supporters protested the rights of Yeshua followers to peacefully assemble. They did everything short of physical confrontation to disrupt this gathering. They set off their car alarms, played loud music through an electronic system (one song they played was “Highway to Hell”), shouted, and held up their printed signs in protest. Understand, that throughout the week, Yeshua followers stand near the PP location with signs. They do not yell or blast their message with bull horns or mega-phones. They are respectful to PP, their clients, and neighbors. The most they do is ask the women who come to PP, if they might pray with them and give them a brochure.
How do I know this? I live one block away from this location and I walk past it every day, praying for those who are standing up for the unborn and against the institution of death.
It is quite a contrast in watching the people on both sides represent their cause. Each side manifests the character of their master. One side brings a message of peace and life, and one side brings a message which manifests vitriol, hate and death.
Just the presence of Yeshua, triggered the demons to manifest themselves. An example is found in Mark 5 in the country of the Gerasene’s. As Yeshua approached a man “with unclean spirits,” the demons within began to manifest with “screaming and gashing himself with stones.” The demons begged Yeshua “do not torment me.” The ones who were tormenting the man, begged not to be tormented. Please do not do to us what we are doing too this man.
What did Yeshua do? He cast or commanded the demons to leave the man and the next thing Mark documents is the man was “dressed (he was naked) in clothes and in his right mind.” He was tormented, but now he was in his right mind and in peace.
The psalmist declares today that he is for shalom (peace). We may stir up the demonic with our Yeshua bearing presence, but we are there to bring peace. Yeshua told us that He was hated before we were hated. Because we identify with Him, the world will hate us (John 15:18-19). We have no need of being surprised.
Action: When I am Christ Yeshua to the world, it will hate me, just as they hated Yeshua.
Yield: When I represent Yeshua, I will be hated.
Engaged: When I abide in Yeshua, He abides in me.
Relationship: The Holy Spirit abides in me when I abide in the Father.
Prayer: Father, You are the peace giver, just as Yeshua brought peace, You bring peace. Help me to bring peace to the world and the souls of men. Amen.
Memory Verse: John 14:27
27 “Shalom I leave you, My shalom I give to you; but not as the world gives! Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid.
Music Video: Peace (Official Lyric Video) – Bethel Music feat. We The Kingdom | Peace
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”