Thursday, June 5, 2014
Luke 24:50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
PEACE UNPARALLELED
As we commemorate the ascension of Jesus back to the glories of heaven that were His before the world began, we also commemorate the soul-uplifting truth that our Lord, according to His faithfulness and tender mercy, will lift His countenance upon us and give us His peace.
How we need this assurance! Amid the spiritual confusion in the world around us. The deteriorating society we live in that's becoming steadily more evil. People maltreating each other. The love of many growing cold. Pressures related to home and family, work and finances that touch our lives personally. Days when we may feel like we're at the end of our rope, at the very limits of our patience ... the ascended Savior blesses us with quiet confidence that everything will be okay. He reminds us through His Gospel Word that He is at our side and will sustain us by His strengthening presence. He'll give us the peace the world can't give which stems from the established fact that He lived, died, and rose again for us to bring us into His eternal family.
Because the heavenly Father did not keep Jesus back from us but gladly handed Him over to the death of the cross, how could He not, along with His dearest Treasure, give us everything else we need for our lives here and hereafter?
I the Lord will bless and keep you And give you peace.
I the Lord will smile upon you And give you peace.
I the Lord will be your Father, Savior, Comforter, and Brother.
Go, My children, I will keep you And give you peace.
(Worship Supplement 2000, 800:4)
