Day 88: I trust you, Lord. Living in peace. John 15 and 16
Today is the day you will stop blaming God for what you have decided to do. It’s not His fault you are having hardships, issues, or tribulations. Some of it is because you chose to do contrary to what His spirit has guided you to do. Another is because you live in this world. Yes, His word says you will have tribulations, but with Him, you will remain in perfect peace. Jump right into the word.
These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. John 15:17-20
Often you may have read this and thought that Jesus was simply saying “love one another” or, in other words, love everyone. In chapter 15 and 16, He was speaking to His disciples. He is telling them they (followers of Christ) are all they have. They need to stick together and help one another out. Why? Because the world will hate them, persecute them, kill them, and the like because they are not of the world. The world will FOREVER be against you. They were against Christ, they will be against you as a follower a Christ. Don’t let this turn you away. Keep reading and you will see what He has for you to help you in this world. This world is NOT the home for the righteous of Christ (Hebrews 13:14; 1 Peter 2:11-12).
If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. John 15:22
People are upset with you because your righteousness is showing them up! Jesus said before He came and corrected people, the temple priest (leaders and so-called believers today) didn’t realize they were sinful. Father sent Him to Earth and it uncovered their sin and showed them up. Their pride made them hate Him. If He’d just stayed in the Kingdom, they would still be doing their mess proudly, and now they have been shown up. You know what they eventually did to prove their ‘righteousness’: they nailed Him to the cross, not knowing that they were doing exactly what they were supposed to do.
Jesus who was pure was hated. He was often in combative situations. He was thrown at, spit on, beaten, persecuted, and every other vile thing you can think of. Did God allow this? No! Jesus chose to go through it. He did this so that He could show you how to persevere through your hardships (and for your salvation), and if you know anything about the spirit of God, you would also know that Jesus had Spirit with Him at all times. When He left this world, it allowed for the Spirit to come for you and provide you the same comforting to go through whatever this world (who was bred just to come against believers) throws at you.
These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? John 16:1-5
‘These things have I spoken to you…’ Jesus starts with. What things? The things mentioned in His dialogue previously. He was telling them these things so that they will be aware that it will happen. Many people will come against you claiming to do it in the name of God, but they are liars! They, like the temple priest of His time, did it for their own prideful reasons. It has, and never will have, anything to do with God. They are following the leading of their lying father, Satan, and trying to convince themselves that what they are doing is right.
Jesus didn’t tell them before that He was to leave them because he was their comforter. He had all the power to showed restraint and peace. He was a living testimony of how they should behave now that He was about to return to Father, but He wasn’t going to leave them comfortless.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. John 17:8-11
And that, dear one, is a ‘HOT DOG!’ moment. He comforted them and sent a comforter for those who follow Him. The comforter is Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is such a wonderful friend to have because He can get you through anything the prince of this world (Satan) throws at you. Did you get that? ANYTHING! There is nothing the people of this world can do to you! NOTHING! Jesus has already overcome the world.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 17:33
If you would follow the teaching of Christ Himself, you will have peace. Yes, in this world, if you choose to follow Him, you will have tribulation, but this world isn’t your finally stopping place. You have more to your story when your eyes have closed for your final sleep. When you are awakened by the trumpets for judgment, you will then know what it was all for.
The Peace He sent when He went away is still here. He promised you that with Spirit, you will have joy and peace (plus some other things). This is a promise! Can you trust that when things get hard that His Peace will encapsulate you? Can you trust that when things look drab, He has already prepared a way of escape for you (1 Corinthians 10:13)? Jesus was and will always be the Way (John 14:6). There is nothing too big for Him to handle. You just have to hone into what Spirit is saying and go where He sends you and do as He leads you. Trust Him and watch you breeze through any situation the world throws at you to make you stumble.
Sweet peace is mine,
Keiyia JOYet George
Trust Walk: Walking in His Steps coming soon!