Shalom,
Psalm 125:5b:
5 ...Peace be upon Israel!
The word "peace" is the wonderful Hebrew word, "shalom", which means: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, safety, health, prosperity, quiet, tranquility, contentment. THAT is to be our prayer for Israel! When we pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem, we are in the perfect will of God and we WILL be blessed (Genesis 12:3)! Now let's take that further and speak "shalom" over, and to, everyone we meet! Remember that the seed we SOW is the also what we shall REAP! I LOVE reaping shalom! How about you?
John 2:18-22:
18 Then the Jews retorted, What sign can You show us, seeing You do these things? [What sign, miracle, token, indication can You give us as evidence that You have authority and are commissioned to act this way?] 19 Jesus answered them, Destroy (undo) this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again. 20 Then the Jews replied, It took forty-six years to build this temple (sanctuary), and will you raise it up in three days? 21 But He had spoken of the temple which was His body. 22 When therefore he had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this. And so they believed and trusted and relied on the Scripture and the Word (message) Jesus had spoken.
Even the disciples that were the closest to Jesus and had been with Him the longest, did not REALLY understand what was about to happen to Him! Jesus was so faithful to continue to give them the Word of God, so that WHEN they were able to understand, they would remember what He had taught them! Don't get discouraged if it seems like some Truths from the Word of God seem difficult to understand. You WILL eventually "get it" if you don't give up and quit! Knowledge of God's Word is built layer upon layer and it takes time! BE FAITHFUL!
Sometimes we can get so caught up in the fact that some people, religions and nations have set themselves against God and are His enemies, that we forget how GOD Himself looks at them! Ezekiel 18:23:
23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord, and not rather that he should turn from his evil ways and return [to his God] and live?
The Father is waiting for the precious fruit of the earth (James 5:7)! He wants that none should perish, but all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)! Let's not be quick to condemn the enemies of God. That is really HIS job, when the set time for judgment has come. For now, there is still time for hearts to be changed! What do we do? Preach the Gospel, in season and out of season! When it is convenient, and even when it isn't! THAT is OUR calling and only reason to be living on this earth right now! DO IT WELL!
Shalom in Him!
