Cornerstone

Judges 6:19-24 (24)

Jesus stands up in the boat. The stormy waves wash over the deck. He rubs sleep from His all seeing eyes. The disciples clutch at the mast with one hand and bail water with the other. He expresses an exasperated request, “Please be still.” The winds and waves turn pink in frustrated embarrassment and beat a hasty retreat back to their placid state.

You are right. He really said “Peace be still.” That’s exactly what He said to my heart one day. It was in a churned state of turmoil. It was boiling over the rim of my humanity. It was in a froth of frustration, and frantic concern.

On that day the Master of the Tempest stood up, looked upon me with tender forgiveness and brought a deep settled peace to my soul. I have never been the same.

He loved me before I was loveable. He wanted me while I was wayward. He called me when I was corrupt. He reasoned with me when I turned from Him in rebellion.

One poet stated, “He knew me . . . yet He loved me.” I don’t understand. All I can say is that once I was at war. Now there is a wonderful peace that insulates my heart from the strife of this world. How can I help but love Him with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind?

Dr. Gayle Woods

Heb 7:25-28 (26)

Our attention was riveted on our friend who claimed strange magical powers. Before us on the table was a saucer. Our magical had just poured water into the saucer. After that he picked up the pepper shaker and proceeded to dash pepper on the water. His claim was that he was going to cause the pepper to quickly move to the outside of the saucer. We watched breathlessly. Reaching for a bottle of dish washing detergent he proved his point by letting a drop of the detergent fall into the middle of the pepper. It was as if a magnet surrounded the saucer and each grain of pepper was a metal shaving. As soon as the little drop of detergent touched the water the pepper fled to the outskirts of the saucer leaving a clear pool of water in the center.

This is what happens in the life made holy. The same God who told the people to be a separate people said that when we are made holy that, “Old things are passed away…” We are told to “avoid the very appearance of evil.” Our flight from the sin and sinful practices of the world should be radical and rapid. If we are truly holy the flight of the world from us will be just as swift and sure.

Dr. Gayle Woods