Personal Reflection: Peace
A universal peace summit summons. Everyone is an emissary, ambassador of equal importance and independently appointed. The flight, drive or walk is not far, nor difficult. No sign warns of winter conditions, chains or traction devices required, bombing, fire and revolution across any wall. The magic mountain venue approaches all. A congress of compassion in unanimous agreement. No elevation is mentioned. Micah 4:1, “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up about the hills; and peoples shall flow to it….”
Mountains in the northwest include Mt. Hood at 11,200 +/-, Mt. Rainer 14,000, and Denali (formerly called Mt. McKinley) at 20,310 feet, making it the highest in North America. The tallest, 29,029; Mt. Everest. These majestic mountains demand respect from people. Weather adjusting patterns of behaviors affecting sight beautiful joy of moisture formation and radiant reflection of a brilliant day. Yet ominous conditions can cripple even the most well-equipped, seasoned adventurers.
These natural wonders were formed from the earth's heart, destructive disruption on a massive level. David the Psalmist agonizes, "Out of the depths I cry to there from the heavens,” The Mountain venue has an anxiously anticipated agenda with one topic: Peace! It is a twist to realize when the Bible uses in English either LORD which means the personal, saving God, whereas the lower case Lord is more as the currently master description of God. It is with new eyes as this distinction is applied to our God who is the Chairman of this, His Mountain of peace.
“Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. Oh Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” Psalm 130:1-3, 7, 8 + 4:12
“Let us go up that He may teach us his ways and we may walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go out the Law of and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshare and their spears into pruning hook; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war no more but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.” Micah 4:3, 4
Among the many gardening tools of peace a current synonym may be programming controls on our electronic devices to block search engines for war and instead searching for peace. Tools of kindness, hope and love, replacing, discrimination, bullying any living creature of any ethnicity, religion, citizenship, alternative life style. Photographers, climbers and recreation enthusiast will no longer battle potential oxygen deprivation, hazards, weariness or fatal accident. All may boldly leap upon this Mountain!
Mary Gibbs-Murray
Her passion is family and friends including two grown children, Sarita and Dale, two grandchildren, Alex and Avery. Hiking outdoors is a close third. She is married to her best friend Rogers Murray. Education, music, art to support treatment for cancer and mental illness are priorities.
Bible in a Year: John 5
This Bible reading plan explores The Word based on the chronological order in which it was written, and is unrelated to the daily character devotions.
The Word of Promise audio Bible is used by permission. For more information and to purchase the complete audio Bible go to https://www.wordofpromiseapp.com/.
John 5
A Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda
1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
And that day was the Sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”
12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
Honor the Father and the Son
16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
Life and Judgment Are Through the Son
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
The Fourfold Witness
31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”