"Be still, and know that I am God." Ps. 46:10
"Fear ye not; stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord...." Ex. 14:13
"Peace, be still...." Mark 4:39
We often view peace as a self-conscious psychological state, whereas scripture reveals a deeper reality: true peace is a state of inward stillness caused by the knowledge of God. There is a stillness that God creates in us: not lethargy, but peace. It is the world that infects us with the chaos and noise of restlessness, while God commands us to be still and think on Him. Indeed, you cannot be still unless you think on Him who is unmoved and unmovable by the winds and waves of the world. The peace of God is the stillness of God, a stillness that He gives to us when our minds stay on Him. We would do well to capitalize on the still and quiet moments, whether or not our circumstances are in equilibrium to them.
The book of Revelation has Christ defeating His enemies with a "sharp sword" that comes "out of His mouth" (Rev. 19:15). The common understanding of this image is that His words are His weapons. The same voice that inaugurated history at the beginning will be the one to consummate it at the end. Some wonder what exactly His words will be, and I cannot help but wonder if it will not be "Be Still." The chaos of this world is stilled once and for all by the voice of God. That is a future happening, however; that same stillness can be ours in this very moment. "Where is your faith?" (Luke 8:25). The stillness is contingent upon faith, on knowing that God is God, that salvation is of the Lord, and that Jesus is in the boat with you in the midst of the storm.
-Jon Vowell
"Fear ye not; stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord...." Ex. 14:13
"Peace, be still...." Mark 4:39
We often view peace as a self-conscious psychological state, whereas scripture reveals a deeper reality: true peace is a state of inward stillness caused by the knowledge of God. There is a stillness that God creates in us: not lethargy, but peace. It is the world that infects us with the chaos and noise of restlessness, while God commands us to be still and think on Him. Indeed, you cannot be still unless you think on Him who is unmoved and unmovable by the winds and waves of the world. The peace of God is the stillness of God, a stillness that He gives to us when our minds stay on Him. We would do well to capitalize on the still and quiet moments, whether or not our circumstances are in equilibrium to them.
The book of Revelation has Christ defeating His enemies with a "sharp sword" that comes "out of His mouth" (Rev. 19:15). The common understanding of this image is that His words are His weapons. The same voice that inaugurated history at the beginning will be the one to consummate it at the end. Some wonder what exactly His words will be, and I cannot help but wonder if it will not be "Be Still." The chaos of this world is stilled once and for all by the voice of God. That is a future happening, however; that same stillness can be ours in this very moment. "Where is your faith?" (Luke 8:25). The stillness is contingent upon faith, on knowing that God is God, that salvation is of the Lord, and that Jesus is in the boat with you in the midst of the storm.
-Jon Vowell
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