The Way Of Peace

THE WAY OF PEACE

OBSERVATION: LUKE, AN APOSTLE, WROTE HIS GOSPEL TO HIGHLIGHT CHRIST’S HUMANITY. HE COMPILED THE EVENTS OF JESUS’ LIFE, WHICH SPOKE POWERFULLY TO A GENTILE (NON-JEWISH) AUDIENCE WHO SOUGHT SPIRITUAL FULFILLMENT. JESUS’ CHARACTER AND IDENTITY VERY CAREFULLY UNFOLDS. YOU FIRST SEE CHRIST A MAN, THEN A GREAT MAN AND LASTLY MORE THAN A MAN. HE PORTRAYS CHRIST AS A LIFE CHANGER.

INTERPRETATION: READ LUKE 1: 76-80 (NKJV)

POINTS TO PONDER:

ZECHARIAH WAS REMINDED THAT JOHN THE BAPTIST, HIS OWN SON, WOULD LEAD MANY OUT OF DARKNESS INTO THE LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST. HE WOULD CORRECT ERRONEOUS IDEAS REGARDING THE MESSIAH TO COME. HE WAS PREPARING THE JEWS PARTICULARLY TO WELCOME THE ADVENT OF CHRIST. A NEW AGE WAS NEAR AND HE MUST BE PREPARED.

JOB 22:21 (NKJV) NOW ACQUAINT YOURSELF WITH HIM, AND BE AT PEACE; THEREBY GOODWILL WILL COME TO YOU. THE HEBREW WORD ACQUAINT YOURSELF OR YIELD MEANS, “BE PROFITABLE”. YOU CANNOT BE PROFITABLE TO GOD THROUGH YOUR OWN EFFORTS; HOWEVER, YOU CAN ACQUAINT YOURSELF WITH OR YIELD TO HIM.

PSALMS 34:15 (NKJV) DEPART FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.

COLOSSIANS 3:15 (NKJV) AND LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEARTS, TO WHICH ALSO YOU WERE CALLED IN ONE BODY; AND BE THANKFUL.

A BELIEVER HAS THE DUTY OF CULTIVATE PEACE.

APPLICATION: A HARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS YOUR ONLY WAY TO PEACE!

REF: D. CONNELLY, R.A.H. D.C. FLEMING, P. PETS, B. JOHNSON, J. C. RYLE. B. COFFMAN