Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other.
We are told that (Psalms 85:10) Mercy and Truth met together. That must have been an awful blow-up because the truth about me is that holy God could never have mercy on me so I am doomed. Almighty Sovereign Majesty rules on the (Ezekiel 1:26-28) sapphire throne which is encircled by a rainbow like a halo. His appearance has the lustre of bright burning, gleaming like highly polished fine brass. (Scripture uses words we understand to give us an idea of what is beyond human description or understanding). That holy brilliancy (1 Timothy 6:16) could kill me. BUT No! The verse goes on to say that Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other. How was that possible? What happened?
What happened took place on the Cross of Calvary where God made the GREAT EXCHANGE. God took the sinful truth about me and made it (2 Corinthians 5:21) the truth about Jesus. Then He took the holy truth about Jesus and made it (can you believe it!) the truth about me. Then it was possible for mercy and truth, righteousness and peace to merge in an unending relationship within me, which continues to develop and grow in godly wisdom. The deeper the intimacy we have with Jesus, the more clearly we will realize the supreme treasure and priceless riches of God’s will. We will desire to know, obey and be God’s will, in every aspect of our lives. When Jesus was in the world, He was (John 8:29) God’s will in the world. If Jesus is being Himself in us, we will be God’s will in our world. What is God’s will for us? God’s will is: Hebrews 10:36 – that we be steadfast.
John 6:29 – that we believe because without faith it is Hebrews 11:6 - impossible to please God.
Romans 15:13 – that we have all peace and joy in believing.
Galatians 5:6 – that we have faith that works through love.
Matthew 28:18-19 – that we be involved in God’s redemptive purpose for the world.
Acts 1:8 – that we be faithful witnesses
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – that we give thanks for everything no matter the circumstances, because God has a good and beneficial purpose for everything He allows in our lives. Physically I have heart-failure but spiritually I have heart- peace.
Matthew 5:16 – so let our light so shine that the Father will be glorified by others who see our good works.
The Lord showed me that this means more than others verbally praising the Lord because of our good works. It means that when others see what God is doing in our lives, they want to glorify God by letting Him produce good works in their lives. Is there any person anywhere who is glorifying God because they have recognized Him in you and me? We can have spiritual discernment (Colossians 1:9) of the knowledge of God’s will. The law of God was written on tablets of stone and given to Moses (Exodus 31:18) on Mount Sinai. Now the Law of God is written within us because God will (Hebrews 10:16) imprint His laws on the hearts of believers. This develops godly character in us through our relationship with Jesus Christ, Who has Himself fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the Law in us. Christ has freed us from the Law and its unfailing judgment but the precepts and principles of the law become the fabric of our lives as the Holy Spirit fills our hearts and minds with the knowledge of God’s will.
Wisdom is knowing what to do with our knowledge. As we obey the Lord we are rewarded with (Acts 24:16) a clear conscience void of offence toward God. The law has no hold over us because we are in Christ. He is (Colossians 3:4) our life and He has satisfied every demand of the Law on our behalf. Jesus told us (Matthew 5:17) that He did not come to do away with the Law but to fulfill it completely. We don’t have a written code – we have a Living Christ, Who went once and for all (Hebrews 9:12, 24-27) into the Holy of holies with His own Blood.
When we receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, then God uses sanctification as the life-long process to make the dust that we are, glorious again. To be so in line with God, to be so in heart-to-heart agreement with Him that we can know the will of God the Almighty Creator and to gladly, faithfully co-operate with His will in loving intimacy with Him, is the greatest and richest of all treasures. What higher, nobler, more honourable vocation could we have? We can actually serve and obey the Lord by faithful prayer for the Persecuted Church, the sleeping church, the lost world and anything else I bring to the Throne of Grace, interceding with Kingdom authority. When by faith, I ascend to the Throne Room in the Holy of holies, I pour out my love and worship before Sovereign Majesty. Then God extends His golden scepter to me and as I touch His scepter, He gives me the keys (Matthew 16:19-20) to the kingdom authority of heaven. I can bind, loose, pray the will of God in heaven to become God’s mercy and blessing on earth. How? Faith has wings that far exceed the power of aero dynamics. Whether I’m going in prayer to the Holy of holies or the darkest corner on earth, faith takes me faster and farther than any jet plane. When we are at our weakest (Dr. Stanley) “God’s undeserved grace (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) reaches the pinnacle of powerful strength for us”. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be (Colossians 1:10) in all things pleasing to God, to be a satisfaction to Him at all times? We can actually obey and serve God by faithful prayer for the Persecuted Church, the sleeping church, this lost world – and every request I bring to the Throne of Grace.
Obedience is conscious freedom based on love. Incarnate Deity is not just something we believe but (2 Peter 1-3) the reality we live. When we obey the Lord, it is our earth-time investment for our celestial eternity. Just think of the glorious possibility of coming to (2 Corinthians 5:10) the Judgment Seat of Christ with no regrets! We have seen His glory, His glory as Creator and His glory as Redeemer. So like Isaiah, (John 12:41) we should be talking lovingly and frequently about Him, proclaiming Him in everything we say and do. Jesus said (John 14:21) that our love for Him is not proved by words or sacrifice but by obedience. That comes with a glorious promise. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father and I will love Him and reveal myself to him. There is another powerful promise for prayer. If you (John 15:7) abide/live in Me and My Words continue to flourish in your heart, nourish your soul and operate in full charge of the control centre of your mind - - - whatever you ask will be granted. If the Living Word of God is your continual mindset and nourishment, all your desires will be God-given (Psalms 37:4) desires. So, they will be God’s will and assuredly will be granted. Don’t waste time (Mark 1:18-19) mending your nets to hold temporary toys but leave your nets and move on to (John 14:12) the greater works.