Peace like a River!

Mornings With Jesus

Peace Like A River
“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)
In Acts 6:8-7:60, we find the story of Stephen. He was chosen by the disciples to be one of seven to serve on their behalf in the ministry. The Bible describes him as a man full of faith and power, who did great signs and wonders among the people!
Can I tell you what that equates to? He was full of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit!
He was so full of the Word, that the religious people, who tried to catch him up in various arguments, being jealous of him, were not able ever to stand against him. The Holy Spirit gave him the words to speak in every situation.
Because of this, because they were not able to stand against him in words, they resorted to spreading malicious lies about Stephen. I love Stephen’s response!
He was brought before the High Priest to answer for his supposed crimes of blasphemy which the religious peoples had been spreading in secret, behind his back.
Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gives an entire rundown of the law and the prophets, from Abraham to Moses to David and up to Jesus, telling the religious leaders in no uncertain terms that it was they who had continually come against God by worshiping other gods and seeking to harm the prophets over the years whom God sent to point toward the coming Christ!
The religious leaders were pricked in their hearts to the point that now they resorted to violence. They dragged Stephen out into the street and began stoning him.
Again, I love Stephen’s response! The Bible says, “Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, Lord do not charge them with this sin. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
Wow, now that is peace! That kind of peace can only come about by an intimate walk with Jesus, by being full of the Word and the Holy Spirit!
I want you to notice the progression of the evil that came against Stephen, and yet no matter what, he kept his mind stayed on the Lord and on His Word, to the point of being put to death even for the sake of the gospel! And even in his final moments on the earth, he was able to forgive the very ones killing him, just like Jesus did!
What an awesome man of God and what an awesome God we serve who supplies us with such peace like a river!
Today, whatever you are facing, please know that Jesus offers us a peace that passes all understanding! He offers us His peace, not as the world gives, but as He gives!
The world lies and cheats, they say one thing and do another, but Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever! You can put all your trust in Him!
So even if we are faced with what we perceive as the worst thing ever, we can have peace like Stephen, if we will just keep our minds stayed on the One who provides peace like a river!
Be encouraged today!
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Thanks so much for your prayers and support,
Joshua Scott Zeitz

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