SPEAKING PEACE
Suggested Reading: Esther 9-10
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Yad Lashiryon Memorial at Latrun is the Armored Corps' Memorial Site. The memorial is surrounded by tanks used and captured in Israeli wars. The centre piece of the Armored Corps is the Wall of Names on which are inscribed the names of all 4,965 fallen soldiers of the Armored Corps from all of Israel's wars. This location is also the site of the Biblical battles of Joshua Bin-Nun against the Amorite kings; in the book of Joshua it says: "Sun, stand still upon Giv'on; and moon, in the valley of Ayalon" (Joshua 10:12).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Esther 10:3
For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.
Mordecai was a man who had peace within himself. His confidence in God enabled him to stand up straight when others bowed. That security, based in the knowledge of who he was, enabled him to develop a bold plan to save his Jewish people from an impending holocaust. Twice in today’s reading Mordecai is recorded as speaking “peace.” Some Jews took revenge on their would-be killers. Even Esther wanted revenge, but there is no record of Mordecai seeking revenge. Rather, he promoted days of feasting, joy and gladness. Esther 9:30 tells us that Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in all 127 provinces of the Persian Empire in which he wrote words of “peace and truth.” We don’t have a copy of any of his letters, but if we did, we would probably find that the “truth” he shared was about the God of his fathers. Our key verse reads, “…seeking the good of his people…” Let us speak, write, and model “peace, and truth.” This is how we seek the good of all. Amen!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Lord, even in exile in a foreign land, You found a man of sterling character named Mordecai. I pray that by Your grace I will become such a person. A person whom You can trust to serve You faithfully…a person who will speak “peace and truth”…a person who will seek the good of all. In the name of the One who did that very thing consistently, Jesus of Nazareth. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
People who speak “truth and peace” are amongst us today. Some have a louder voice than others because of the advantage of their prominence. I’m thinking of three such people. Two of them are political leaders and one a spiritual leader.
(1) President Carter – He brokered peace between Egypt and Israel known as “The Camp David Accords.” SUCCESS! I had the opportunity of experiencing this up close as an accredited journalist in Israel during the final breakthrough (pages 47-49 in my recent book – “This Far by Faith”).
(2) Former Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Barak – When he initiated “The Oslo Accords” with Palestinian President, Yasser Arafar, I had high hopes for a lasting peace. Barak had brought blankets to poorly clothed Syrian soldiers during a blinding snow storm on the sides of Mt. Hermon. If anyone could suceed, I thought, it would be him. But the effort failed (see pages 68-69 in my book).
(3) Dr. David (Mohsen) Damien, founder of “Watchmen for the Nations” – He spoke “peace” to the survivors of the St. Louis ship by initiating a gathering in Ottawa where we (representatives of Canada) repented before God for the action of our political leaders back in the 1930s in turning away the ship on which they were travelling as children, seeking refuge in Canada. After being turned away from our shores, most of their parents perished in the death camps of Europe. David, by his words of “peace and truth,” brought a beautiful reconciliation between these hurting Jews and Canadians. This is one of the many stories through which I’ve learned much, which is not in my recent book. As God gives me strength, I’ll write another book soon.
I am more determined than ever to speak “peace and truth!” Jesus is my Mentor. He said, “My PEACE I give you” (John14:26) and “I am…TRUTH…” (John 14:6). In Hebrew the word for “TRUTH” is “HEMETH.” This word means the experience of “TRUTH,” not just a list of doctrines which we say we believe. I suggest we all read John 14:5-31 and experience Jesus by the working of the Holy Spirit in us through meditating on Jesus’ Words.
Yours for “PEACE” and “TRUTH,”
David
P.S. This week’s theme on 100 Huntley Street is “Science and Faith,” featuring several very prominent scientists who are also followers of Jesus. One such person is Dr. James Tour, a Jewish man who found Christ as his Messiah. Click here for a video clip of his story from a documentary produced by Crossroads.
The Yad Lashiryon Memorial at Latrun (description under photo above).
God’s Word most definitely speaks to us of peace and truth. It’s comforting to know that in a world that moves at a breathtaking pace, when all seems confused and turned upside-down, God’s Word is always there bringing solace, peace and speaking truth into our lives.
In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness. John 1:4,5
‘Many hues are contained in the sunbeams you see. In like manner, My light contains blessings of many kinds. Some of them you can recognize and enjoy. Others are not visible to your sight or mind, but they work invisibly in the soul to accomplish My purpose. The entrance of My word gives light.
‘My child, darkness is the absence of light. When darkness threatens your tranquility, remember that Light dispels darkness–and yours is the responsibility to seek it, and keep on seeking it until the shadows flee before it. You prefer darkness when your heart has turned from Me. Choose light.’
Echoes of Eternity, Listening to the Father, Vol 1, Hal M. Helms, August Eighth, pp. 170-71
For we know that Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life , Oh how we want to walk and live in TRUTH , Help us Lord Jesus to be people of truth and give heed to your word and not lie to one another Help us to stand for truth and peace and help us to be women and men of God to be used by yhe HOLY SPIRIT to be a light in a dark place in Jesus name Amen
Enjoy your daily blog. The clip you linked would not play on my ipad. There are also other clips I,cannot play from crossroads 360
Thank you Pastor David and fellow saints…..PEACE and TRUTH….certainly what we should strive to accomplish in this world. People need The Lord….and we have a message to share.
I certainly have felt that amazing PEACE on many occasions lately more than others and with PEACE and TRUTH it brings me to a place where I can rest and trust everything to HIM who paid for my sins and loves me beyond all measure. Praying for all of you. Love in Chist.
Amen to your prayer Brenda. Thank you David and Scott for what
you wrote.
Lianne Hogg
Thank you for posting the documentary. Just what I needed today.
Today’s prayer stood out to me. I desire to be a person of sterling character, but I think Matt Chandler said it best when he said: if all my innermost thoughts and actions were listed out for you on the screen, any sense of self-righteousness would be completely obliterated, and I would have to excuse myself with great embarrassment (paraphrased). I listened to Chandler say this in a sermon series last night and was affected in a way that both hurt and encouraged me. No one wants to think about those dark places that we struggle to keep hidden on a daily basis. Those places that when we think about them, they make us cringe with every fiber of our being. Those are hurtful places. That said, seeing ourselves in full light, everything exposed, makes us realize how much we are loved by our creator. We have all made choices against the way God had intended us to live originally – in perfection. We often also disregard the fact that this disobedience comes with a great price – our spiritual and physical death – as a perfect God cannot live with sin. But, God being both just and merciful, came to earth as a human, lived a perfect life, and died in our place to bring justice to the sin that we have committed. What’s more is that this death extends mercy towards us. As Jesus was perfect, death could not keep him dead and we can have a relationship with Jesus who is God. Because Jesus raised from death to life, sin was completely obliterated – those dark places not counted against us! Through accepting a relationship with Christ, God sees us as perfect, as children, as his beloved, as sterling, as gold. How beautiful that this desire is already fulfilled!
Mordecai and Esther were both people of courage, loved God and laid down their lives for their people for which they will always be remembered in the Feast of Purim. They are those shining lights which will shine forever. Your message and prayer are meaningful, David. I remember the reconciliation meeting they had in Charlottetown also between the English and French. Have a good day everyone!
true!
Hi David, Another great study today. In verse 22, we read that the Feast of Purim was to be celebrated by the Jewish people everywhere, celebrating this miraculous deliverance,by having two feast days ,and to give one another gifts and Gifts to the Poor. My husband and l, and a group from our church used to help out at the Salvation Army, and in December boxes of brand new socks and undershirts etc. came in. We thought it was very generous and we asked where this all came from. We were told that they came from some Jewish store owners, that knew the work that was going on, and gladly contributed. l think they were observing Purim, wasn’t that wonderful!
I offer my observation and relationship in the Word of God relevant to the message of peace. I have heard hosts of 100 Huntley describe how ungodley they found Toronto when the show was produced there. I actually saw a couple of you back then. They seemed tormented by persecutions. Back then, I was not living a life that put Jesus first but I saw that something was going on. I am in your shoes now. I handle it with equal difficulty or worse. I am not a tv host. I am not a minister of a church congregation. I am not a public figure. However, I am a christian who now does put Jesus prominently in my choices. Though I am not a public figure, I am harassed by strange people. The ungodly hate christians. As the god of the Quran said, it/he/the Quran/satan makes people like mosquitoes to harass and persecute those who don’t accept him. It is not usually muslims doing it but it is the antichrist. This harassment is typically passive aggresive and perverse. It typically includes: adults behaving like children; women like prostitutes; children as young as two speaking lude words and recently seven or eight year old children behaving like they were acting in porn for paedophiles. People seem indifferent to it. I hope Jesus puts a stop to him and his workers very soon. In this world there is trouble but Jesus overcame this world. I do not demonstrate a lot of patience but I at least have Jesus to keep me from being deceived by the world. I have more peace than the workers of sin who hypocritically fake peace while trying to intimidate, deceive, torment, corrupt and provoke christians. I often use bad language in anger and recently almost started a fight. This is not a christian way but it is because I am a christian that people want to provoke me. I am happy that there are stronger christians than me who can speak truth without bad language in anger(when provoked). I also think it is good to show the hard part to life and still try.
All Christians who stand up for Christ will face attack, our Lord Jesus pretty much told us in His Word to expect such things, so try not to take it too personally. I offer this advice out love and ask you to consider it and pray about it and check Scripture to see if what I am saying makes sense. The Christian way is love, so as difficult as it might be always look upon those who are afflicting you with love. They may or may not be there to attack you, they may be there as an opportunity to experience God’s love for them through you. If you are finding trouble finding the love in yourself, ask God to share his heart for these people with you. The best way to discover that is praying for them– and that is why Jesus told us to pray for our enemies instead of taking a defensive stance. You are on the side of righteousness you do not have to prove it, just live it.
And lastly — if you are struggling with a sin– in your case bad language, you need to own up to it. You cannot say, I wouldn’t use this language if I wasn’t provoke— that is an excuse. You use that language because you want to and you want to because you are sinner– a forgiven one– but still a sinner, and it is pride that tells you you have a right to curse those you are attacking you, but it is up to God not you to deal with them. So until you own up to that, until you can face God and say this is my problem, not other people, God cannot help you and Satan will always find someone to provoke it out of you. A good starting point, because I had the same issue at one time is spend a lot of time praising God out loud, reading his Word out loud. Spend time listening to praise and Scripture, as much as possible– because blessing and cursing cannot come out the same well — praise more and the less likely those curse words will pop out. I will be praying for you, please take care.
I know that you are struggling with a health problem now and this is also a tempering for you. I have been impressed with the patience your son Ron demonstrates. It is admirable. I met him a couple of times before I feared God. I have seen you less but I think you have had a few tests in your life and suffered and struggled. Maybe it was just a dream but I don’t think it was exactly so. God also has rewarded you even in this life for your faithfulness.
and then to think that the word God is nowhere to be found in the book of Esther!
Sufficiency is by grace alone. The produce or (fruit) of the Spirit is (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance); not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.
Thanks. I needed that. It actually helped. Someone (more than one) definitely prayed. I will try to have more patience. I think it is often good for me to say things even if it is confronting the bad influences but I should avoid the general bad language and “possess my soul.”
The song is amazing! It is so cute seeing u all sing together with such wonderful voices:) you are truely blessed! May the Good Lords grace and mercy never depart from u! Amen!