Choose Peace

Today I read Isaiah 30:14-33:14 and Philippians 4:17-Colossians 1:15. My favorite verses are:

Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

Isaiah 32:17-18 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

Colossians 1:9-10 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

When God gives us clear direction in our lives and tells us the rewards of following His direction as He does in these verses, isn’t it sad that our response is often the same as Israel’s was to the prophecy of Isaiah—“and ye would not”! I am amazed and ashamed that I can be so willful and stubborn as to choose my own path instead of following God’s direction. We rob ourselves of God’s blessings when we choose to live that way. God has offered us peace and quietness and safe homes to live in, yet we rebel and refuse to obey Him. Look around you and see the results; we live in a society plagued by terrorism, violence, perversion, abuse; we are surrounded by people filled with fear. Wouldn’t we all rather be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and be fruitful in every good work?!! Isaiah tells us God’s three R’s for obtaining peace—Return, Rest, and work Righteousness. Thank God there are Christians who “do not cease to pray”. Make every effort today to walk worthy of the Lord. Let’s turn our country and our world around by increasing in the knowledge of God and living according to His will.