Title: Those Who Enjoy God's Peace
Contents
*** Those who enjoy the peace of God / Matthew 11:25-30
** Introductory words
Matthew 11:25-30, “25 Then Jesus answered and said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I thank you for hiding these things from the wise and prudent and revealing them to little children. 26 That's right. This is the will of the Father. 27 All things have been given to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and he who receives a revelation as the Son wishes. 28 Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden. I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. Then you will find rest for your hearts, 30 for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Not long ago, the Korea Internet Information Center surveyed and announced the current state of Internet use by Koreans. According to statistics, 51.6% of the population aged 7 years or older on the Internet. Probably much higher by now. The most common purpose of using the Internet was to search for new materials, followed by learning and various transactions. Amusement games, which until recently dominated by far, are on the decline. In particular, the new generation of people in their 20s and younger are using computers almost 90% of the time.
This active use of the Internet is probably the biggest reason for communication (communication). In other words, the Internet is a world where ‘fast communication of information’ and ‘unlimited fellowship with other people (homepage, blog)’ are possible. That's why it's even referred to as 'Internet navigation'. It's a space where you can roam the world almost unlimitedly. Therefore, modern people, especially the new generation, without a computer, their emotions become unstable.
This is an important reason for awakening and knowing the peace of God in this generation. This is because modern people, especially children who are growing up, do not enjoy peace and joy in the faith that depends on God. Everything in the world is limited and changing. That's why it never gives you real peace. People also know that these things will change someday, making them more anxious and obsessive. So people love themselves and put their own interests first, and their relationships are dry. These phenomena are already appearing in our society today.
Jesus forewarned this generation in which we live and the chaotic generations to come. At the beginning of today's text are Jesus' warnings about these end times. And in the text that follows, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I thank you for hiding this from the wise and prudent and revealing it to little children. That's right. For this is the will of the Father,” he prays. These words teach to whom the life and truth of God were given.
Those who have God's life and the word of truth will have a peace that is not shaken by any circumstance. In other words, if life in the world is always hard, without joy, and depressed, it means that the life of God is not working within you. Why? It is because we think and calculate too much while looking at the world. So Jesus said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I thank you for hiding this from the wise and prudent and revealing it to little children. That's right. For this is the will of the Father.” That's what you said. Because young children are simple and do not do the calculations as cleverly as adults. After saying these words, Jesus invites people to the resting place of Jesus.
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden. I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. Then your hearts will find rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
A dry and harsh world, a generation in which each clings to their own lives and forgets their neighbors, a world of sin that is getting deeper and deeper. This is the world of adults who pride themselves on being wise and sensible. But there is a hidden way for them to possess the peace of God. Because you cannot find this path with your proud eyes and your heart full of your own desires. Let's find a way to enjoy the peace of God through the Word.
First, let's think about possession and enjoyment.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-19, 6:1-2. “I have seen good and beautiful that a man should eat and drink, and enjoy pleasure in all his toil under the sun, which God has given him, and this is his portion. It is a gift from God that God has given to any person riches and wealth, that they may enjoy it, and that they may receive a division and rejoice in their hard work.” / “I have seen one evil under the sun, which is heavy for man. Some have received from God riches, riches, and honor because they lack all the desires of their souls, but have not been able to enjoy them, so others enjoy it. This is also vanity and an evil disease.”
King Solomon, the third king of Israel, enjoyed unprecedented wealth and glory. God speaks through his life experience. Even if you work hard to death, cherish, and accumulate many things, if you do not enjoy them, they are of no use. Even if you have a wealth of tens of billions of won, what good is it if your body is ill and you cannot eat anything?
Young children are completely dependent on their parents. They don't care about making a living. Children are the ones who are faithful to the task given to them. Even the concept of having a lot is not established for children. It must have been the same heart that God gave to the first people, Adam and Eve. It was only because we had to enjoy joy and peace in the world that God made. Toiling, sweating, and accumulating was the punishment given to humans after they sinned and left God. That's why he said, 'He makes them enjoy and rejoice' for those who are fit for God's will.
If you want to enjoy the peace of God, you must empty yourself.
God's peace is the joy and happiness of our lives. As the proverb says, “It is better to be poor but have a harmonious and happy family than to have no peace and no joy in the family even if it is an affluent life.” This is through the peace of God. To enjoy God's peace, we must lay down our thoughts, our plans, and our experiences before the Lord.
When your little one rides an electric car at an amusement park,
“Mom, Mom, I drove a car today. I don't know how to drive, so buy me a car like my dad's car!"
If so, what would you say? Who would seriously listen to that and do it?
Our experiences and plans are like this before God. In Jesus' day, those who were said to be wise and discreet were the chief priests, the scribes, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees. These were proud, selfish, hard-minded people full of ego. Rather than revealing their faults and sins in front of Jesus, they were busy condemning and judging Jesus according to their own standards. But it was different for those who could humble themselves, the poor who were ignored and abandoned, the publicans and the prostitutes. They put down all their thoughts, experiences, and status, and fell on their faces before Jesus, begging him to have mercy on them. This is the little child Jesus is talking about. The problem is to become a clean and sincere person like a child who can be accepted by God.
The prophet Samuel went to the house of Jesse at the command of God to anoint David as king. When Samuel saw Eliab, the eldest of Jesse's eight sons, he thought, 'This is the one God will anoint.' Then God speaks. (1 Samuel 16:7) “Do not look at his appearance and height. I have already abandoned him. What I see is not the same as men do; a man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
What God sees is our heart. If our hearts are filled with our own thoughts, experiences, and plans, there is no room for God's peace. That is why the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Colossae, “Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above” (Colossians 3:1). wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speech from your mouth. Don't you lie to each other. Having put off the old man and his deeds, and put on the new man... ” (Colossians 3:8-10) “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Since you were called in one body to peace, also be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).
Let the peace of God fill our lives. Because the peace of God contains all things. “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden. I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. Then your hearts will find rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” This is an invitation to God's peace. The Lord promises to lighten our heavy burdens and give us peace. This invitation to peace does not mean that all problems will be solved and everything will be done right now. I am saying that I will enjoy peace because God intervenes in my life and guides me. That is, it has the same meaning as the words of Philippians 4:6-7.
(Joint Translation) “Don't worry. Always pray and supplicate with a grateful heart and make your wishes known to God. Then the peace of God, which no man dares to conceive, will guard your hearts and minds who believe in Christ Jesus.” That God keeps our hearts and minds in peace is a promise that God, who knows our needs, will guide us in time.
The time we live in now is a time when God's peace is absolutely necessary. Even more so in the days of our children. Let us fill our hearts with the Lord. Let the Spirit of our Lord be poured out like water on our hearts. Then our hearts filled with the things of the world will be emptied and filled with the peace of God. Therefore, I pray that you will live a life of joy and peace until you reach the kingdom of God without wavering, even if the environment of the world and strong winds of crisis blow.