THE ROCK

Many talk about peace, in fact it is the current main topic everywhere you look and listen.

At the same time we hear about inevitable war in the Middle East. From being out and about, going about my work, mixing with people, I know that lots of people are really scared about the prospect of war. Some even have children and other relatives in the Forces making preparations to go. Some have even talked about God and wonder if He will do something.

Well, I do believe in God and I do believe He is able to do anything He wants to, but is it wisdom for Him to avert war? It's not really peace, is it, when so many are oppressed and there is a constant threat of attack? That's not what I would call peace.

There is, however, another kind of peace. The peace of God, the peace which passes all understanding,in Hebrew 'shalom'. Many Christians quote Jesus Christ as being for peace, but look what He actually said in the Gospel of John 14:27:

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." NASU

That doesn't seem as though He is going to stop all wars does it?

I ought to mention here that I prefer to call Jesus Christ by His Hebrew name of Yeshua because after all that is His real name (Yeshua Hamashiach) but when I write these pages, I may sometimes refer to Him by His English name, Jesus.

So how can we get that peace from God? Here is one tiny example which happened to me about twenty years ago and I have never forgotten it.

It had been a really bad day at work. It had been so stressful. There were also exams and I felt worried. Things at home were not peaceful at that time and I had a lot of pressure because I actively believed in Yeshua. There was no time to do everything I needed to do and earlier in the day had met a young woman, in poor health who was generally in a worse situation than I was. She needed a visit and I wondered how to fit it in, and I was soooo tired!

Toni (not her real name) was desperate and had been wondering about God, it could not wait, but it wasn't realistic to go to her. Wait a minute though! Was that my say so, or God's? I prayed and opened the Bible. There it was "put on the sandals swift to tell the Good News of peace" (Ephesians 6:15). I wondered about this, on how to "put on" the sandals spiritually and couldn't fathom it at all. Eventually, I said to the Lord:

"Lord, I don't know how to do this, but you also said we are to turn and become as little children in order to see the Kingdom of God, so I take up these (invisible) sandals and put them on both feet." Guess what happened? I stood up in my new invisible sandals which had been "put on" over my own shoes and a felt a wave of strength throughout my whole being. Nothing mattered at that moment except visiting Toni. Grabbing my bible and coat I literally ran down the road. I felt such joy and peace about what I was doing. Toni was at home with her husband who was up the steps decorating, the children were out playing.

We had a brief discussion about her circumstances and then who Jesus is, Toni asking many questions and I silently praying for the answers. We didn't stop for coffee or platitudes, this was a 'business' meeting. After some discussion Toni decided she wanted more of God and got down on her knees. Imagine my amazement when she called her husband to do the same and he obediently descended from his ladders and knelt beside his wife. I quickly joined them both and we prayed together.

That day, this lovely couple invited Jesus into their lives. They then started going to church and were ably cared for by a loving group of people.

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