By

Kevin R. Schultz

At Peace

07-30-2024

  I have had several people asked me, how can I be at peace with Karen in Hospice and then me watching her slowly going down hill medically?

  Well the answer quite simply is God. He has been with us from the beginning of this journey. He brought Psalms 23 to my attention in the start of this journey. Today we will look at other verses of scripture that talk about God’s peace.

  Well let ‘s start on our journey of peace. I am going to take another look at Psalm 23:1

Ps 23:1 (NIV)

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

  With God as my shepherd I will be able to be at peace because He is the one guiding me and watching over me. He will take care of all my needs, even the ones I don’t know I have. Because of this I will never be lacking.

  Now let us break this verse down further shall we.

Ps 23:1 (NIV)

1 a The LORD is my shepherd, – Psalm 28:7-9, John 10:7-11

  Verse 28:7 that God is my strength and my shield, that tells me that God is going to get Karen and me through this trial we are navigating, it also tells me that He is going be there with me when Karen goes home to be with the Lord.

  Since God made these promises (and God cannot lie) I can trust in Him with a joyous heart, and song in my heart. I would sing out loud but then I would scare everybody else away.

  Here is what it says in The Biblical Illustrator…

 The Lord is my strength and my shield.

A sacred solo

Note in the three sentences-there is in each that which is inward and that which is outward. “The Lord is my strength”–that is inward; “My shield”–that is outward. “My heart trusted in Him–inward; “I am helped”–outward. “My heart greatly rejoiceth”–inward; “With my song will I praise Him”–outward. It teaches us that truth and beauty of form are to be linked together: to be holy we need not to be uncouth.

It also asks these four questions

1. Now as you walk around the walls of your own soul, have you got God as a shield?

2. You, young fellow, are you shielded by God?

3. Is God your shield?

4. Have you covenanted with Jehovah?

  Verse 28:8

The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

 With God as my strength and shield and the gift of salvation building a fortress around my soul that not even Satan can get through, gives me a peace in my heart.

  Verse 28:9

Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.

  Now what I am getting from this is…

1. Get out the message of the Gospel to the unsaved.

2. Be a blessing to them, guide them.

3. To be there for them, do not give them the Gospel and once they except Jesus Christ do not abandon them. Always be there for them with answers for their questions, or just to listen to them or pray with them.

  Verses John 10:7-11

  Verse 7

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.

  Here we are being told that Jesus Christ is the gate, the only way into Heaven and the sheep are the lost souls, searching for what the are missing.

  Verse 8

All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.

  Here He is talking about false teachers leading people down the wrong path, which leads to spiritual death(separation from God).This is why those that reach out and teach others have to make sure we teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ for we will judged more harshly then others if we teach the wrong thing.

  Those called thieves and robbers are the false teachers, and those that listen to them and go by what they teach will never make it into Heaven.

  Those that listen and do not follow what the thieves and robbers (false teachers) are teaching are the sheep, who will hear the true Gospel and will follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The sheep will be residing in Heaven with the Lord.

  Verse 9-10

9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

  Here Jesus is telling us that He is the only way to the Father, we will find peace in Him, our stength will come from Him, the answers will come from Him. We will have a full life. As long as what we do or ask for is in God’s will He will provide for us.

  Please also look at these verses…

John 14:6; Ephesians 2:18

  Verse 11

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

  Not only is Jesus the only way to the Father, but He also paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross, thus making it possible for us to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

1 b I lack nothing.

  How can I not be at peace knowing God is going to be there with me. Knowing God knows what my needs are and taking care of them. Giving me the wisdom to understand the difference between wants and needs.

  I mean what other God loves His creations so much that He set up our plan of salvation before He even created us? Well since there are no other gods except our Father in Heaven

  Also look up these verses

Psalm 84:11, Psalm 107:9; Philippians 4:19