He Guides Us into Rest

      When the chaos of the day we live in crashes and rocks our boat, it is the gentle and confident presence of Jesus that sustains us in the storm.  The place of rest is in Him.  He alone is the destination.  We confidentaly turn our inward "gaze" (or attention) to God.  I feel that if we do this as His people true renewal can happen.  Renewal in fact, must happen!  The church cannot have an answer in a day of chaos and uncertainty without the calm and clear voice of Jesus guiding her actions.  We have an opportunity to either react while being full of love and grace (like our God acts) or let anger and contempt guide us, further fueling the present chaos.  I think the church is also at a point of consequential choice with her future at stake (particularly the American church).  If we come to the culture with the beauty and peace of Jesus as our answer, and truly listen to the heart of the hurting we have the potential in that tension to see real Kingdom change.  I think the Kingdom is better conveyed through a beauty that is truly beautiful by a church in love with her King, thereby displaying His temperament to the world at large.  I think this beauty and temperament can very well defuse chaos itself.  We cannot overcome fire with fire in our current situation.  We don't need more shouting and chest pounding.  We very much need humility that goes under and around the rage, not more anger to fuel more rage.  We have to love those who do not agree with us while still holding true to the righteous and just way of Jesus.  "A kind word turns away wrath" comes to mind in light of the present time.  We need to sit still with Jesus and hear His kind word for the present moment.  His kind words correct in love while still being true.  Jesus cannot compromise Who He is anymore than He can comprise His saving love for people.  Righteousness and justice go together but the motivation for both is love itself.  We have to ask ourselves as God's people what our motivation is in regards to dealing with the culture at large.  Are we motivated by love or by getting our own way?  Is our own way even God's way?  We need serious discernment and serious introspection.  I feel a lot more is at stake than we think.  We must let Jesus guide us into rest.  I think the answers are in His embrace of peace.