Friendship with God starts with honesty -- it’s what brings each of us personal peace.
There is a time to be militant like in prayer, but why war with Him who is for you -- be on the Lord's side. Remember back in the day when that rascal Jacob went from wrestling to nestling in his relationship with the Lord? Let’s also do that! God turned this flawed dude into a world-changer. Can do it with you too!
The Bible says, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” Romans 5:1
Some may think they’re neutral about God if they don’t have an opinion about him one way or the other. They aren’t outspoken atheists, after all. But prior to becoming a Christian, every person is at war with God. That is what the Bible teaches.
We read in the fifth chapter of Romans that we were the enemies of God before we were reconciled. And Romans also tells us, “For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will” (8:7 nlt).
Live sold out to Christ. Wisely prioritize. Choose to diminish all your distractions. Delete what's unnecessary..what's far less important.
Just months before America entered World War II, a young Marine from Ohio named Walter Osipoff, boarded a DC-2 transport plane. He and several other Marines took off on a routine parachute jumping exercise as pilot Harry Johnson headed aloft into a beautiful blue San Diego sky. Nine men jumped from the plane and then disaster struck. Osipoff was standing near the jump door when his ripcord caught on something and deployed. His 'chute flew open and he shot from the plane like a rocket, hitting the side of the aircraft. The impact broke two of his ribs, fractured three vertebrae, and, as Osipoff plunged toward the ground, he was yanked to a stop and then jerked backward. His parachute had wrapped around the plane's wheel and the hapless Marine found himself dangling 15 feet below the plane's tail. He was literally hanging by a thread.
And it gets worse. The 'chute's chest strap and one leg harness had broken, so Osipoff was dangling in midair upside down, suspended by a single strap which had slipped down to his ankle. His weight put tremendous pressure on the plane and Johnson was struggling to keep from nosediving. Furthermore, Johnson had no radio contact and the other men in the plane couldn't reach their buddy. The dangling Marine, injured and terrified, kept his eyes squeezed shut against the rushing wind. Blood dripped from his helmet. He was stuck and he was facing certain death.
Man, poor marine -- he was left dangling when we left him. You know, those Marines have a motto: Semper Fi, always faithful. They're not people who easily give up.
Walter Osipoff was hanging by his ankle, pulled behind a plane by the cords of his parachute which were entangled in the plane's wheels. The pilot, Harold Johnson, was running out of fuel but he knew if he tried an emergency landing he would kill Walter Osipoff. So he descended to about 300 feet above the ground and he started circling around the airbase. Most people who saw the plane thought it was some towing piece of equipment situation, but one pilot, Lieutenant Bill Lowrey, looked up and he knew what was happening.
Spotting a nearby Marine, John McCants, Lowrey shouted, "There's a man hanging on that line", and they jumped into an SOC-1, a two-seat open cockpit plane, and they took off without even knowing if the aircraft was fueled. Suddenly, everybody on the ground realized the nature of the emergency. Every eye was transfixed. There were no radios on the planes but Lowrey hand-signaled Johnson to head toward the Pacific and the two planes rose to an altitude of 3000 feet. The SOC-1 maneuvered beneath the larger plane and McCants stood upright in his rear cockpit seat and lunged for Osipoff. Grabbing him by the waist, he pulled him across the tiny seat. But Osipoff was still attached to the harness.
Now both planes and all the Marines were in mortal danger. Somehow, I believe it was by the grace of God, Lowrey inched his plane closer and closer to the DC-2 and actually bumped it. But in the process, the propeller sliced through the remaining cords of Osipoff's parachute and freed him up. After flying through the air for more than a half an hour, dangling on a parachute line, Osipoff was free but he wasn't safe. Now, the cut parachute cord became entangled in the SOC's rudder and Lowrey struggled to maintain control of his plane. But he did and when he landed, a roaring shout came from the crowd. They had just witnessed what was later called one of the most brilliant and daring rescues in Naval history.
Poor hapless Marine, he spent six months in the hospital and as soon as he recovered he went right back to jumping out of airplanes again.
Good for him. Have you been lukewarm, carnally minded, worldly, just hanging around but not growing too long? Prioritize, delete things of lesser importance. Know Jesus well, and find out what this Lord (God) wants you to do. Wisely go do it. Make knowing Him and his will your number one thing and then organize your life around that one thing and God will move you forward into his grace.
Proverbs 23:17 says this: "Be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day". Paul said that we are to be, "His own special people, zealous for good works". When you seek first Christ, his will for you, His Kingdom.. you'll grow and place yourself in the path God has promised to bless!
We're to love God most and then our neighbors. Believe it or not, we have 7.7 billion of them on earth. We can't know or personally care for each of them but the Lord knows exactly how to lead us to those that we need to help and serve. When there’s too many around us, Spirit guided service matters more than trying to love and serve em all.
Live passionately, zealous, on-fire for Christ. I distinctly remember the day I became a Christian. I felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I’ve also talked to many people who said they experienced the same thing.
As an 18-year-old in the Newport Beach area of California, I remember the evening I repented, believed in Jesus and was born again spiritually. I felt like a heavy burden had been lifted off of me. What a relief to find Him.
The Bible calls this the peace that passes all human understanding. It isn’t contingent on circumstances; it’s independent of them. In fact, sometimes you’ll notice this peace even more in the midst of very difficult circumstances.
For example, I have visited people in hospital rooms who are receiving treatment for cancer, and they have ministered to me more than I have ministered to them.
They’ve said things like, “Greg, I sense such peace in my heart that God is in control. … I’m just rejoicing in the Lord.”
Meanwhile, I’m standing there in awe. I’m in awe of their faith, but I’m even more in awe of the fact that God gives us what we need when we need it.
You cannot experience the peace of God, however, until you first have peace with God. And his terms of surrender are simple: You give in. You simply say, “OK, you win. I lose.”
In this instance, losing is winning. When you lose you win, because when you get to the end of yourself you get to the beginning of God.
The Bible tells the story of Jacob, a conniving, dishonest guy who made a mess of his life. But one day the Lord came down and engaged him in a wrestling match. Jacob literally wrestled with God. He fought with all his might, yet he could not overcome the Lord.
Eventually, the worn-out Jacob gave in. He said, in effect, “All right, Lord, I give in. Now, I’m not going to let you go until you bless me.”
So the Lord blessed him and changed his name from Jacob to Israel.
Jacob went from wrestling to nestling. He went from fighting to trusting. And that is what we all need to do.
Stop fighting with God. Stop running from God. Then he will give you the peace, the tranquility that comes from a relieved conscience. He will give you the peace that passes all human understanding.
You can have that today -- you need to do it God’s way and go your own way.. not try to earn it on your own.
Drugs never will give you this peace. Alcohol never will give you this peace. Possessions never will give you this peace. There is no relationship with anyone, as wonderful as they may be, that will give you this peace.
Philosophy will not give you this peace. Even religion or good works will not give you an inner peace. Only Christ can forgive you and give you peace.
You can find it in your life by saying, “Lord, I’m tired of spiritual compromise, this inner fighting with you. I’m tired of running from you. I want to know you well and make you well known. I want to be your close friend.”
What did we do to deserve all of this? The simple answer is nothing.
We can have a friendship with God because Jesus made it possible. He already has made a way for us. He has already paid the price on the cross for us and rose from the dead. Now he stands at the door of your life and knocks. And he says that if you will hear his voice and open the door, then he will come in.
Have you asked Jesus to forgive you of your sin? Do you have the confidence that comes from knowing that God has forgiven your sin, from knowing that you will go to Heaven when you die? Or, is your heart and mind filled with turmoil and friction and anxiety and fear and apprehension?
To replace this with the peace of God, you must first meet God’s conditions.
What are they? First, admit you’re a sinner. Then turn from that sin. Repent of it. And then ask Jesus Christ to come into your life to be your Savior and Lord. Believe in him and enter into this friendship with God.
We Christians have the hope of Heaven. We have the hope of a reunion with loved ones who have gone to Heaven before us. Do you have this hope and assurance?
Do you now have peace with God? That inner peace can be yours right now as you turn and trust Him. Wise application? First, just end your personal war with God. Right now, right here, right with Him! Do you feel awkward in this? Choose to serve humble. Remember that 'lil donkey Jesus used for entry? Know that the Father can use you to bear his Son in this world as His rep. What's your story of faith? You can live as His witness and verbalize your faith as His witness.
“When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.
With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devil’s walking parody
On all four-footed things.
The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.
Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet." ~ G.K. Chesterton
