I want to say right up front that if you think the following is “being judgmental,” then you’ll probably never be set free, indeed. Jesus’ words may sound judgmental to those who love the darkness. But, to those who have ears to hear, and for those who want to be set free at all costs, His words were exactly what they needed in order to get free from this world.
I have found the following to be so true in my own life. I was so conformed to this world that it was killing me and my family. That’s the main reason I had to cut ties with my parents and relatives about 30 years ago – they said they were Christians but were so conformed to this world by acting so much like the world with their jealousy, unforgiveness, bitterness, worry, fear, etc. And now, as much as I can help it, I do not allow myself to be around others who refuse to come out from the world because I have to be free by following Jesus. Fortunately, PTSD, and my other health issues have pretty much forced me to follow Christ the way I’ve been writing about for the last several years.
Whenever I’m tempted to react to circumstances the way the world reacts to circumstances, I take a step back, and listen and yield to the Holy Spirit. He’s so faithful to help me handle things His way and the outcome is always better. I urge you to heed the Lord’s command in the following verses and to take Joyce’s words and change your life with them. Do not be conformed to this world. Stop allowing yourself to be conformed to it. Instead, renew your mind to Christ, our Prince of Peace. Come out from the world by following Jesus, the One Who has overcome this world. Don’t just say you’re a Christian, prove that you belong to Christ in your day-to-day living. Live out your Christianity by doing the following. It will set you free, indeed.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him (Jesus), Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Matthew 13:9-16
Jesus, Your Prince of Peace
By Joyce Meyer
Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]
John 14:27
When we are all stressed out, we usually try to eliminate the things that are causing our problems. But the source of stress is not really our difficulties, circumstances, and situations. Stress comes when we approach problems with the world’s perspective rather than faith in Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
It was Jesus’ blood that bought our peace. Peace is ours as a gift from Him, but we need to be willing to change our approach to life. We cannot have anxiety, frustration, bitterness, strife and offense, or rigid legalistic attitudes and enjoy the peace of God.
Even though we will have disturbing issues to deal with, we can have Jesus’ peace because he has overcome the world, and deprived the world of its power to harm us (John 16:33). He left us with the power to “stop allowing” ourselves “to be agitated and disturbed”! Peace is available; all you have to do is choose it!
The Prince of Peace, Jesus, Who lives inside those who have received Him, knows and will reveal to us the specific actions for us to take in every situation to lead us into peace.
It is absolutely amazing what we can accomplish in Christ if we live one day at a time in His peace.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 KJV
Please believe me when I say I love you and simply desire for you to be free in Jesus, The Prince of Peace.
God bless,
Mark