Fri.-Sabbath, 2/24-26/17 Devotion

Praise God that it is almost Sunday again! We *get* to go back to church. Here is Thomas Watson, from his, "A Body of Divinity" book. Here, he is talk-ing about "Peace." . . .

"True peace flows from union with Christ. The graft must first be inoculated into the tree before it can receive sap or nourishment from it; so we must first be ingrafted into Christ, before we can receive peace from Him. Have we faith? By holiness we are made like Christ; by believing we are made one with Christ, and being in Christ we have peace, (Jn. 16:33).

"True peace flows from subjection to Christ. Where Christ gives peace, there He sets up His government in the heart. 'Of His government and peace there shall be no end,’ (Isa 9:7). Christ is called 'a priest upon His throne,’ (Zech 6:13). Christ as a priest makes peace; but He will be a priest upon His throne—He brings the heart in subjection to Him. If Christ be our peace, He is our Prince, (Isa 9:6). Whenever Christ pacifies the conscience, He subdues the lust.

"True peace is after trouble. First, God lets loose a spirit of bondage. He con-vinces and humbles the soul; then He speaks peace. Many say they have peace, but is this peace before a storm, or after it? True peace is after trouble. First there was the earthquake, and then the fire, and then the still small voice, (1 Ki. 19:12). You who never had any legal bruisings, may sus-pect your peace. God pours the golden oil of peace into broken hearts."