Daily devotionals-By: Pastor Randy McCord
THIS IS TABLE ROCK FELLOWSHIP PASTOR RANDY MCCORD
| In Him Peace. We all want it. But often we don’t have it. It’s true that Peace is often elusive, but its location is not a mystery. Jesus gave us specific instruction on exactly where to find it: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”John 16:33 Jesus makes a dramatic statement here about the way things are: Firstly – he assumes that each of us is in this present, tangible, physical environment of Earth, which he calls “the world.” So long as we are physically alive, we are required to be in the world. Jesus then further states that an unavoidable attribute of the world is “trouble.” But He then proffers a specific way to be in a unique sub-location within “the world,” if we specifically choose to do so. But it is clearly a choice – not the default place that the world occupies. He names this alternative choice location, “in Me.” So, if we choose to do so, we can live in two places at once – “in Him,” which can be found in “the world.” How to Have Peace We know from the New Testament this “in Me” place is the realm of life received when we intentionally accept and embrace Jesus’ gift of forgiveness and justification. At that time, we also must specifically and voluntarily pledge our lives solely to Him, and subjugate our own selves to His preferences and desires. When we believe, accept, and claim Him – and are baptized into Him, we literally “put him on,” as if he were a garment – we place ourselves “in Him,” and we are unified to his own physical death and physical resurrection. Our “old person” dies as He did, and our new person rises as He did – a renewed, regenerated person, bound for eternity. That new person is the one who may then live in the peace that Jesus gives us. We will still be living with the trouble that the world absolutely guarantees. But because we are now “in Him,” we may have His peace – a state of tranquility – even while we are in the world and its trouble. Timshel Lastly, note there is at least one other significance word in the verse – that is “may.” “In me you may have peace.” Jesus is saying that trouble in the world is mandatory, but peace is not. And yet, peace is possible. We “may” have peace. So, how do we gain it? Apostle Peter demonstrates it perfectly for us. The key is continued, intense focus on Jesus. We love the story of Peter walking on the water of the tossing lake. When he first left the boat, Peter was riveted on Jesus. The turbulent sea had no effect on him, because he was “in Him.” But after a while he let the environment – the world – divert his attention. And at that point he was sunk. His peace fled, because he was no longer focused “in Him.” We’re all in that same boat with Peter. Clearly, we’re in the world and its trouble. But if we maintain our focus, and stay in the better realm of “in Him,” then we will keep our peace, despite the world around us. This is only possible by the intentional surrender of our will to His. Both Peter’s miracle and our peace clearly depend on our trust and laser-focus “in Him” – Jesus. Fix Your Eyes The good news is that the Bible tells us exactly how to accomplish this focus: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”Hebrews 12:1-3 Just keep getting out of the boat and focusing on Jesus. You’ll find His peace waiting for you there every time. – Randy McCord, Elder |
OUR MISSION AS A CHURCH
“TO ENCOURAGE AND EQUIP EACH OTHER IN LOVE TO KNOW JESUS AND MAKE HIM KNOWN”
Table Rock Fellowship
3610 N Pacific Hwy
Medford, Oregon 97501
Copyright © 2022 Table Rock Fellowship, All rights reserved.
DINING WITH JESUS PRODUCTIONS 
You must be logged in to post a comment.