LifeLink Devotions

Friday, April 21, 2023

It made me very uncomfortable. My flesh wanted to enjoy the moment, but my spirit was unsettled. As I was being introduced to speak the MC said, “Here is a great man of God.” I cringed. I quickly prayed to ask the humility of Christ to be seen in me.

As I stood to speak, the introduction of my message instantly changed in my mind. I looked out over that crowd of people and saw pastors, pastoras, college students, and church workers who were deserving of true honor before the Lord. Many came from remote places. Many lived in places with no running water, no sanitary systems, no air conditioning, no showers or bathtubs, and no source of income. Yet here they were, gathered as faithful servants of King Jesus, longing to be enriched and encouraged to go back to those places and carry on the commission of Jesus Christ to share the Gospel with everyone.

These are the true heroes of the faith. People who have sacrificed all the things we consider entitlements so that Jesus Christ can save more souls. I told them they were great people of God and that I was nothing compared to them.

We all have the tendency to look for people who are greater than us so they can influence us. It is especially true in the church. We are constantly looking for the next great preacher or author who can influence us. We quickly follow them and call them great. We even label our belief system with their name. Even pastors do it by using quotes from them in their sermons to validate the truth they are teaching. Why do we do that? The Bible alone is our validation of truth. It’s not wrong to quote what others have said, but why do we hold those people in high regard just because they seem to have a better grasp on the truth than we do?

Instead of calling them great, why not become great yourself? Study God’s word. Obey God’s word. Grow in your own knowledge of God through the Word. The focus of all Bible studies, life groups, and church services should be the study of God’s word, using other resources only as an assistant. Unfortunately, we have become dependent on what other authors have written rather than dependent on the Author Himself.

I pray that every person who heard me preach that day was drawn to the Scriptures as their source of all life and activity. I believe they already were, because their sacrifice for the Gospel was evident. When the Gospel has its guaranteed affect on us, then we are compelled to serve King Jesus. (Seems I heard a pastor preach on Compelled recently.)  Are you compelled to serve Jesus at all cost, or is He just an add-on to your own pursuits and goals.

I was honored to preach to the faithful servants of Jesus in the Philippines. But I am no more a great man of God than they are. When Jesus Christ takes up residence in a person’s life in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, then that person is great in the eyes of God. Now it is up to each one of us to determine how great we will allow God to be in us, and that requires constant study of God in His Word. Get started today. Grab your Bible and read it before you do anything else. May I suggest you start with First John.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Many people use a variety of excuses to justify a subdued attitude when the church gathers to worship Jesus. Some use their personality as an excuse. Some claim their upbringing as validation. Some even try to use Scripture to justify maintaining a quiet and respectful demeaner in worship. However, with no apologies for any offense you may take, all such excuses and justifications are invalid when the command of Scripture negates them all.

Psalm 70:4 “May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you!”

Now before you start justifying your excuses based on your definitions of rejoicing and gladness that come from within the parameters of your personality and experiences, let’s see what the words mean in their original usage.

Rejoice – A Hebrew verb meaning to rejoice; to exalt; to be glad. It is a verb that indicates great rejoicing and jubilant celebration.

Glad – A verb meaning to rejoice; to be joyful, to be glad; to gloat. It describes a state and agitation of rejoicing, of being happy.

For the 18 days I was in the Philippines, I observed and participated in agitated rejoicing and jubilant celebration. I wish we Americans would learn to let loose a little. I’m not talking about wild confusion, but I am ready for every follower of Christ to learn to really rejoice in the Lord. And don’t try to say that in your heart you are rejoicing when there is no physical proof that you are. The definition of the Hebrew word goes on and states that rejoicing “makes others rejoice and to be glad.” Our quiet, respectful, non-emotional definition of worship is not the Biblical norm. There is a place for quiet worship, just as there is a command for agitated rejoicing. And we are to do it in such a way that others around us are stimulated to rejoice.

I know I have stepped on some toes today. I wish I was doing it while excitedly rejoicing before the Lord, like stepping on your toes when dancing. If you are sensing pain in your toes, maybe it’s because they are too stationary. Maybe if you moved them a little while you worshiped they wouldn’t get stepped on. But your toes are not the real issue…your heart is. I have never, and I really mean never, met a person without emotion. I have also never met a person who doesn’t express their emotion. I have seen the most gentle and quiet people become loud and expressive while they gloat over things that obviously have deep meaning to them. So why, why, why do those same people seem so emotionless and inactive when worshiping Jesus whom they claim to love more than anything? It’s a heart issue.

I am so thankful for my Filipino friends, who have taught me to look only at Jesus during worship, and from my heart rejoice with physical expressions of love, joy, and gratitude. I shouted. I cried. I raised my hands. I danced. I joined in jubilant celebration of King Jesus because I love him more than any traditions or definitions.

I pray that someday soon your personal preferences and the practices of your particular church that restrict jubilant celebration and agitated rejoicing will be forever transformed into heavenly praise and worship. May it start with you this Sunday.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

How many things do you require in your life to be joyful?

When I arrived in the Philippines, I was overwhelmed with a sense of contentment that I don’t often experience here in America. My first full day was spent visiting the Bible College and meeting students who were preparing for their graduation. When I arrived on the campus, I was struck by two things: the new features that had been added, and the decay that was taking place. The tropical climate of humidity and the invasion of termites was causing unfortunate deterioration.

As I walked around the campus, I was still in my American mindset. I made note of things that needed repair. I saw things that I had personally worked on that were now no longer functional. I wondered why there wasn’t more effort put forth to take care of things and keep them nice. American thinking that turned to prideful conclusions.

As we approached the back of the campus, I met my first students. Three young women who were sweeping the grounds with hand-made straw brooms. They were smiling and singing. These girls had come to the Bible college to train to serve their King. They lived together in a dorm with now real possessions of their own. They trusted in the Lord to provide sponsors for their room and board as they had no resources of their own. They told me of many days they would go hungry as there was no money for food. They did their laundry by hand in an old concrete trough behind the dorm. Their living conditions would be unacceptable to any one of us.

Yet here they were, preparing the campus for a graduation ceremony in two days, followed by a pastor’s conference with over 400 attendees, many of whom would invade their dorm space just for a place to sleep. And while they swept, they sang songs of praise to King Jesus. The answer to most questions I asked them started with the words, “By the grace of God.” These young servants of Jesus understood that we require nothing more than the grace of God to be filled with joy.

What a lesson I learned that first day. What a challenge to my American way of thinking. What an eye-opener to my personal sense of entitlement.

So, I ask you again, how many things do you require in your life to be joyful?

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

I have learned over the years that when you fly internationally you must expect delays. Flexibility and patience are required personal attributes.

When I arrived at the Manila airport terminal for my flight to Davao City, everything was going smoothly. I quickly passed through security and made my way to the gate where my flight was on schedule. Over the loudspeaker I heard a woman’s voice informing people that another flight had been delayed, and they all needed to move to a new gate to access a different plane. A surge of people moved past me as they hurried to their new location. Two more times this happened in the first 45 minutes I was there.

Then I heard the announcement about my flight. It was now delayed, and it would be loading a different plane at a different gate.  I calmly got up from my seat and made my way to the new gate location. Thirty minutes later another announcement got my attention. The original plane that had been delayed had arrived and would be prepared for our flight, but we needed to move back to the original gate.

When I arrived at that gate, I noticed a man speaking loudly and forcefully to one of the gate agents. He was very upset. When he was done, he came and stood near where I was seated. I spoke to Jesus about him and asked the Lord to calm his spirit. I then got up and went and stood next to him and started a conversation about delays.

I listened to him as he emotionally described the ineptitude of this airline and the reputation they have for delays. He told me how he spoke to the agent demanding compensation for his lost time. His request was refused. He was angry. After telling me all the details, he was motivated to go and speak with the agent again, so he left me.

When he returned, I asked him if anything had changed. “Nope! It will still be another 30 minutes and they don’t care how that makes us feel,” he said. I asked him what he did for a living and why he was flying to Davao. He said he was from the Untied States and was in the Navy. His mother lived in Davao and was very ill. He had been granted a one-week leave to visit her. He was very emotional because it felt like he was wasting time in an airport that could have been spent with her.

I can’t remember all the words I said to him at that moment, but they had a calming effect on him. I told him who I was and asked him if I could pray for him. He agreed. His heart instantly softened as I put my hand on his shoulder and I addressed King Jesus in my prayer, When I was done, he hugged me, apologized for his language and his anger, and thanked me for reaching out to help him get a better perspective on the situation.

Later, when we boarded the plane, I was already in my seat when he passed by. He looked down at me, put his hand on my shoulder, and smiled while he said thanks.

Dear friends, every day you cross paths with people who are going through untold difficulties in their lives. Our tendency is to avoid them when Jesus wants us to embrace them. We would rather criticize their behavior rather than compassionately find out how we could help. And on that day in the airport, if I had not been flexible and patient, I would have been that Navy man, and been unable to see his need because I was so focused on myself.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Monday, April 17, 2023

Recently I returned from an 18-day trip to the Philippines to spend time in ministry with ECOFII (Evangelical Christian Outreach Foundation International Incorporated), a network of over 300 churches and two Bible colleges on the Islands of Mindanao and Balut. I have been involved in that ministry for over 40 years and have travelled there on five different occasions. Every time I go, I leave a little more of my heart with the people.

Over the next few days, I want to share some lessons I learned from the Lord on this recent trip. Lesson number one was taught to me on the first day of my arrival in Manila. My plane arrived late, and by the time I cleared customs and headed to the doors to catch a taxi to the hotel it was after midnight, and I was exhausted. I told the taxi driver my destination as he loaded my bags into the trunk of the car, and I got in the front seat of the car.

When the driver entered the car, I was physically energized by the Holy Spirit. I felt it. I knew I was supposed to talk to him as he drove and watch the Holy Spirit open a door for the Gospel. And that’s exactly what happened.

He told me about his family, who lived four hours away. He saw them only one weekend a month so that he could stay in Manila and support them by driving a taxi. He immediately opened his heart and shared the personal struggles of that schedule. Then he asked me what I was in the Philippines to do. I told him I was a pastor there to do ministry. A tear came to his eye. He asked if I had any advice for him.

I said no. NOT!!! I immediately asked him what he knew about Jesus. He told me that he believed in Jesus but for the past seven years he had not worshipped Him. I clarified that by asking if he meant he had not been to church. He said he hadn’t, but that’s not what he meant. He meant he was not seeking Jesus and didn’t worship Him. I asked what he did worship, and I saw more tears. I was praying that he was still able to see the road. He said he couldn’t describe it in English, but the concern for making money for his family and yet being separated from them was so emotionally demanding on him that he could only think about himself and how to survive.

WOW. What transparency. The cares of life are so emotionally demanding that we begin to think only about ourselves and fail to worship God. He was describing idolatry, and he knew it.

Does that describe you? What are you worshiping? What idols do you have that have so taken over the demands of life that you have sacrificed your worship of Jesus Christ?

We arrived at the hotel moments later. As he unloaded my bags from the trunk, I reached out my hand to pay him and asked if I could pray for Him. He said yes. There, in front of the security guards at the hotel entrance, I prayed for this young man to be overwhelmed with the love of Jesus who died for him. I requoted the Bible verses I had shared with him in the cab. I spoke God’s truth into His life – the truth of a loving and forgiving God who stands with His arms open to welcome him home if He will choose to worship Jesus again. When I said Amen, he hugged me and said thank-you, I needed this. God blessed me with you as my rider tonight.

Every day God puts people in our path that have been prepared by the Holy Spirit to hear the Gospel. No matter how tired you are, or emotionally drained, or distracted by the demands of life, you can have the energy of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the commission of Christ to share the Gospel. It all depends on what or Who you love the most.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Friday, April 14, 2023

A five-year-old boy was headed to McDonald’s for a Saturday lunch with his dad when they saw a car accident up ahead. It was their family custom to pray for the people involved in accidents when they saw them, so the father asked his son to pray. From the back seat he heard these intense words – “Dear God, please don’t let those cars be blocking the entrance to McDonald’s.”

Lately I’ve become much more sensitive to selfish prayers. You know the type – prayers that tell God our desired outcomes rather than ask God for His. Then, just to be safe and to seem spiritual, we add “In Jesus Name” to the end.

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He gave them two foundational truths upon which all prayers should be built – that God is to be revered as ruler of all things, and that His will is to be done on earth in the same capacity that it is done in heaven. 

Matthew 6:9-10  “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

There’s where the problem lies – in the second part of His instruction. You see, we would all probably agree that in heaven God reigns supreme and that He is revered. His will is done immediately and implicitly. What heavenly being, after seeing how God cast Satan and his followers out of His presence when they rebelled against His authority, would dare do anything but obey the commands of God?

Where we have our problem is in letting God reign supreme in our lives on earth. Even in our most sincere prayer times, when we fully surrender the outcomes of our circumstances and needs to the Father in heaven, we tend to act contrary to our prayers when we return to the reality of life. We begin to speculate on how God will work. We arrogantly presume to know which outcome He will choose. We manipulate circumstances and people to accomplish our desired outcomes. We begin to suffer from worry, anxiety, and fear. We have taken back the control that we had surrendered in prayer. We have prayed in vain for God’s solutions. What we should have prayed for is faith – faith to revere God as supreme ruler, and faith to trust God’s outcomes as good.

Until we have prayed for the faith necessary to trust God as Sovereign Ruler of our lives, our prayers for His will to be done will quickly dissipate into our desires. But when we have fully surrendered to the Father and in faith believe that He is working all things out for good according to His purpose, we will experience peace. Every interruption, every inconvenience, every incident, and every incapacity will be viewed as God’s direction for our next step rather than an obstacle to our next desire. Every prayer we pray should begin with an affirmation of our faith in God’s sovereignty and our submission to His outcomes.

So watch how you pray. Then, watch how you live after you pray. Are they both compatible with your stated faith that God is ruler of all, and with your humble surrender to His will?

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Thursday, April 13, 2023

John 21:15 “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” 

The prospects for finding fulfillment in life are greatly enhanced when we humbly serve Jesus Christ. In fact, they are guaranteed. Look at the life of Peter. He went from being totally proud to truly humble in a series of three questions, and each time Jesus offered him purpose and fulfillment. When Peter admitted the true nature of his heart, Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus gave him the responsibility of nurturing those who were new to the faith. They would need gentle care and guidance so that they might grow up to be reproducers of their faith in the lives of others. Peter was given a starting point of ministry – give the lambs the milk of truth that you have.

When Peter responded honestly and humbly to the second question, Jesus gave Peter a promotion. “Take care of my sheep.” This statement of Jesus imparts leadership and authority to Peter. When the sheep see that you truly care for the little lambs, they will trust you to care for them as well. Now that Peter was beginning to understand humility, he was qualified to be a leader of others. True leaders are servants of those they lead. Do you remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 20:25 – 28?  “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” I am shocked at how many churches are being destroyed because of pastors, elders, deacons, and others who lead from a position of prideful power rather than from a position of surrendered serving. Peter was learning to be a servant, and Jesus qualified him to take care of the sheep.

The third honest response of Peter’s heart to Christ’s question is also significant. Jesus asked a different question this time – he changed the word for love from agape to phileo. Peter had responded to Christ’s use of agape love with phileo love, which was his honest evaluation of his heart’s status before the Lord. Peter’s pride was pinched hard when Jesus changed the question, and he got his feelings hurt. But this is exactly where Jesus wanted him. It was only now that Peter would have to fully humble himself before God by being completely transparent before Jesus. Peter’s response is deep. He tells Jesus, “You know all things,” using the Greek word that means to see completely. Peter admits that Jesus can see his heart. Then Peter says, “You know that I love you.” But Peter uses a different word for the word know, which means to learn to know completely and fully understand. Peter is admitting to Jesus that these are his true feelings, and he isn’t putting up a front.

Here’s the point: Peter confesses to Jesus that what He has seen in his own heart is the real Peter, and that he will always be real with his Lord. He admitted he had much more to learn. In response to that totally transparent and humble openness of Peter’s life, Jesus gives him another promotion – “Feed my sheep.”  Peter was given the position of teacher of the mature Christians. He wasn’t given this position because he had suddenly become educated or been given an advanced degree from a seminary: it was because he had fully humbled himself before Jesus. When Peter admitted that he would never try to better himself in God’s eyes or other people’s eyes but would be humbly honest about who He was and surrendered to God’s power in his life, He was promoted to the highest place of ministry. ”Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”

Peter learned that lesson. Have you?

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Peter had been a proud disciple. His arrogance was displayed in his proclamations of superiority over the other disciples. He had made some boastful statements prior to Christ’s crucifixion. When Jesus told the disciples that He had to die, Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” (Matthew 16:22). Later Jesus told the disciples that He would go through this suffering alone, and Peter responded with, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” (Matthew 26:33). When Jesus rebuked Him and told him he would actually deny Him three times that very night, Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” (Matthew 26:35) For whatever reasons, Peter had declared himself to be the best of the disciples and the one who was always ready to take charge and be in control.

Without damaging his spirit or diminishing his boldness, Jesus needed to bring some humility to Peter’s life so he could be fully used for God’s glory. I don’t know exactly how it happened, but I do know that it did. Was it the remorse Peter experienced after denying Jesus three times? Was it the disbelief he had to deal with when he investigated the tomb and saw it was empty but doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead? Was it a personal meeting he had with Jesus sometime on that first day of Jesus’ resurrection life? Maybe it was all of them combined. The outcome was that Peter became humble. How do we know this? Look carefully at today’s passage of Scripture.

John 21:15 “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Jesus came to the lake shore and helped the disciples catch a bunch of fish. They ate breakfast together, and then Jesus began a conversation with Peter. He asked him a simple question that revealed the heart of Peter – “Do you truly love me more than these?”  It appears that Jesus is asking Peter to love God more than he loves his fishing or the profits that come from a huge catch. It is valid to ask the question, “Do I really love Jesus more than anything else in my life?”

But what did Jesus really mean when He asked Peter if his love was greater than “these?”  I believe Jesus was asking Peter to compare the love he had for Jesus to the love the other disciples had for Jesus. They were all sitting around the fire together, and I can imagine Jesus gesturing with a pointed finger at the six other men as He asked Peter, “Do you truly love me more than these men love me?”  Jesus wanted to test the humility of Peter. Would he still be the arrogant, “I’m better than the others” man they had known earlier, or had his heart been broken and surrendered to Jesus Christ? Jesus gave Peter the chance to put himself ahead of the others by using the word “agape” for love in His question. “Agape” is God’s unique brand of love that unconditionally gives of self for the benefit of others regardless of any return. Would Peter put himself in that category of love and elevate himself to a superior position over the others? No! With a humble heart Peter admitted to Jesus that he loved Him but used a lesser term for love – the word “phileo,” meaning brotherly love. Peter had reached the point of transparency and was able to humble himself before Christ and admit his need.

How did Jesus respond? He gave Peter a purpose: “Feed my lambs.” Peter’s self-proclaimed purpose was to be the best of the best. It was how he would be able to validate his existence and worth. He had now learned that only Jesus can give life meaning, and in humble submission to Christ there is fulfillment. It was in humble serving others that true meaning for life could be found.

Christ’s post-resurrection mission was to equip us to be vessels of His life so that His kingdom could spread to the entire world. That would be impossible if we are not first and foremost humble servants of their Lord. Peter was starting to get it, and God used him powerfully to preach the gospel. Peter even became a role model and teacher of humility to others. In his letter he wrote to the Christians in his day, we read, “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”(1 Peter 5:5 – 7)

Jesus used the question of love as the instrument to humble Peter’s heart. What is God using in your life right now to teach you humility? Are you letting Him do His work? Don’t resist. God gives grace to the humble and uses them for His glorious purpose. Let Him use you.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Peter and six other disciples were floundering in their faith. They had lived for three years with the Messiah, only to see Him brutally killed. They had seen Him on two previous occasions following His resurrection, but even if they were convinced He was alive they were not yet sure what that meant for them. What were they going to do now? Jesus wasn’t making any huge public pronouncement of His conquering of death. He hadn’t marched into Pilate’s palace and proclaimed Himself the King. He didn’t show up at a meeting of the Sanhedrin to prove Himself to the Pharisees and Sadducees. Imagine the looks on their faces if He had. He also hadn’t gone to the temple to tear down the new curtain that had been quickly put up to replace the torn one. Wouldn’t that have proved to the priests that their services were no longer necessary because He was now the eternal High Priest?  All He had done was quietly appear to a few of His followers to assure them that all was well. But how could they have peace if they didn’t know the plan?

So, they decided to return to their former way of life. Peter initiated the move and said he was going fishing. The others joined him. They wanted to believe but at this point they had no real purpose. Maybe they could get their fishing business back up and running so they could at least survive in society. But that first night out produced nothing. How discouraged they must have been. In fact, they were so discouraged that they took advice about where to fish from an unidentified “friend” on the shore. Something about His voice and His advice felt familiar, but they couldn’t wrap their minds around it. At this point, though, they would try anything.

John 21:4-6 “Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”

It worked! They caught more fish than they could bring into the boat. They were amazed that the net held them all. Dollar signs started flashing in their minds. They started to believe that they were going to make it after all. Whoever this person was had given them the break they needed. Their business was immediately reborn, and their hope was immediately restored.

But then John recognized the man on the shore – it was Jesus. He quickly told Peter, who did something truly amazing: he left the business behind and went to meet his Lord. So deep was his love for Jesus that he jumped into the water and swam to shore to see Him. So great was Peter’s respect for Jesus that he put on his outer garment before he jumped in the water so he would look his best when he got there. Most of us take clothes off to go swimming. It didn’t matter to Peter that his garment would be wet and droopy – he just wanted to be at his best when he saw Him.

When the others arrived at the shore with the fish, Jesus told them to bring some of them to eat. What? Eat the profits? Their futures depended on selling these fish so the business could get started again. It was their security. Even eating a few would hurt the bottom line. What possible purpose could Jesus have in asking them to eat the fish? What possible benefit would they realize by doing this?

But Jesus was teaching them a lesson that we all need to learn. Everything that God provides for us in this life is to be used to further His kingdom. Jesus proceeded to ask Peter three questions (which we will deal with more tomorrow). Jesus showed them that the purpose of God supersedes our ambitions. God blessed their fishing trip with huge success, and then He asked them to use their gains to equip themselves to accomplish His purpose. Jesus provided for them so they could serve Him. Jesus fed them so that they could feed others. He tested their love for Him against their love for the world, and they chose Him. Whether or not they kept their fishing boats and business after this is not important. They probably did. We know that the Apostle Paul kept up his business of tent making. But what is truly significant is that they used all the material benefits of their business to serve their King and advance His cause and not their own. Jesus asked them to love Him more than anything they had in the world and use it all for His purpose.

He’s asking us the same questions. Do you love Him more than all you have? Will you use all He provides for you on the earth to serve Him and advance His cause and not your own? Will you be known to the world as a success, or will you be known by God as a servant? 

Important questions. How will you answer them today?

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions

Monday, April 10, 2023

The experience of peace is impossible for the human soul without the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Peace is ultimately the absence of fear. From a political perspective, peace is the absence of war, but there is still the possibility that war could erupt, which causes fear. So long as war is a possibility there can be no real peace. From a relational perspective, peace is the harmony and fellowship of friends, but there is always the possibility of discord and argument, thus producing an element of fear. So long as there is the possibility of broken relationship there can be no real peace. From a personal perspective, peace is prosperity and security, but that is contingent upon factors outside of our control. So long as poverty and injury are possible there can be no real peace.

On the very day the disciples discovered that Jesus was not in the grave, they huddled together behind locked doors in fear. A war could erupt at any moment, and they would be in the minority position. Soldiers could pound on their door demanding their lives just as they had taken their Lord’s life. All fellowship with their friends and society had been broken. Their financial security was in grave doubt and their hope for personal safety was gone. They had no peace.

John 20:19-21 “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 

It is very significant that when Jesus appeared to them, He twice commanded peace to be with them. Because of His resurrection from the dead, Jesus was able to offer to the disciples and to us what the world cannot offer – real peace. In His resurrection power Jesus can conquer all the fear of human existence by putting everything into the realm of spiritual existence. Our spiritual life with Christ conquers all human fear.  In 2 Timothy 1:7 Paul writes, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity…” (NLT). The Spirit of God has no fear, and when we walk in the spirit and not according to the flesh, all fear is vanquished and peace reigns in our hearts.

For the Christian, peace is the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, having nothing to fear from God and nothing to fear from the earth because its hope is not in the flesh but in Jesus. Fear is removed because no more war is necessary – Jesus has won the victory over all enemies already. Earthly wars may still exist, but the ultimate war has already been won. Relational fear is conquered because nothing can separate us from the love of God if we are living in Christ Jesus. Our relationship with Jesus is permanent and unbreakable.

Personal fear is also eliminated, because we no longer live for the prosperity and security of the world but in the present reality of total spiritual prosperity and security. We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing from on high in Jesus Christ, and we have been made joint heirs with Him of all things for all eternity. We have reserved for us in heaven an incredible inheritance that cannot be taken away because it is being kept for us by the power of God. That’s security!

With all fear removed, we can experience real peace. That was the first message of Jesus to His disciples after His resurrection – peace can be yours if you trust me and not the world. Maybe this is the day you will make that choice. Peace be with you.

Pastor John