“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” The thief doesn’t love you, he only wants you. He only wants you to destroy you because Jesus loves you. The thief is the devil and all his emissaries. The problem is not that in various ways the enemy overwhelms us with his strength, but that we open the door and welcome him in. We too often seek the enemy thinking that what he claims to offer will make us happy. (1 John 2:15) Choosing money and the things we think it brings rather than choosing the Lord who does bring what our hearts and soul truly cry out for is a deadly poison. (Proverbs 14:12) The enemy comes to steal what belongs to God. He is a murderer whose select prey is the one who loves the Lord, but who has wandered from true love. If he cannot steal away, he will try to destroy. Destroy the peace that was gifted to us by the one who loves us. The peace is a fruit from the love of God. Peace comes as part of God’s love, but unlike the love of God which we cannot be separated from the peace of God we can be separated from. Not because He has stopped loving us and not because He has taken the dwelling of peace from us but because we have chosen other dwellings. The Lord has not evicted our souls from peace, we have decided to move it to what we think is an enticing place. We sometime think that another place, whatever it is, is more fun, more exciting or more fulfilling and we move away. Tragically sadness replaces peace. How sad to live without peace when His love surrounds us. It is not His desire for us. It is not His will. His peace and joy is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10, John:15:10)
Jesus came that we may have life and that abundantly. He wants it to overflow upon and from us. (Psalm 45:7) He wants it to be overflowing upon us from head to foot. Jesus desires peace to be in our thoughts, in our feelings and in everything we eat, drink and do. How silly to turn one’s back to Him who has done everything so that love and peace would reign in our lives. And where His love and peace are His joy also is. We want to be happy and we want to laugh. It starts with His love and peace where His joy becomes our strength. (Psalm 126:2-3) Pure love, peace and joy is ours. Since these come from our God through Jesus Christ, nothing can come between these and us. Nothing can come between God and us and nothing comes between His love and its fruits and us. Nothing, no not ever! It is only when the thief jumps the fence into our pasture because He cannot get by He who guards it, that we are vulnerable. When he jumps the fence we ought to be bleating “Jesus, help Jesus, help Jesus!” If we know Him we know He loves us eternally and He will help us. Nothing comes between Him and us. Nothing. The eternal plan is and remains to be that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son for us. Nothing can change that. Nothing can steal Jesus from us. But we can reject Him. Scripture says that no one can pluck us from the hand of God, but it does not say that we cannot walk away from it. (John 10:28-29) Scripture is full of warnings to not wander away. (Hebrews 3:14, 1 Corinthians 15:1-2) Like a foolish child who is warned not to climb a high tree but climbs it anyhow and falls to his extreme harm, or death. (2 Timothy 1:14-15) Stay close to God who is close to us, who lives within His children. (Acts 17:27, 1 Corinthians 3:16) Naturally, we all can never not have within us the evidence of our parents. God has created us and has put Himself inside of all who respond to His love. That remains, it is ours to remain with Him because He will never leave us. Never.
Life with Jesus is overflowing with His love, peace and joy. Life in Him is inherently so. Family and Friends God has loved us before the foundations of the world. (Ephesians 1:4) Let us enjoy that.
Has the thief jumped any part of the fence to hurt you, to rip at you, to try to separate you from God? Cling to Jesus. He is holding you and He will not let go so don’t you let go. He is the Treasure of treasures. Hold fast to Jesus and you will ever have Him. He is our Life. He loves us and we are a treasure to Him. Hold on to Jesus who holds onto us. Be grateful and thank Him continuously and you will know Him better and love Him more. Thank the Lord. Hold unto Jesus. Praise God always! Yes, praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.