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Here's our text for Sunday, March 16, 2008:
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace - but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
If you could have anything you want, right now, what would it be? A new car? A new home? Enough food to feed your kids?
I believe that before any of these needs there is a fundamental greater need. A need for peace. Jesus knew it, maybe you do too.
Jesus said that His role, His purpose, is to bring peace.....the kind of peace about which the world knows nothing. A kind of peace which encouraged stones to shout about it and Pharisees or other church leaders to tone it down. The peace of Christ is not a peace forged in international summit negotiations and "peace treaties" which are broken almost as soon as they are signed. The peace of Christ is a sureness in His leading; a confidence in His will, rather than our own. Our following what He would do without needing a WWJD bracelet or pin to remind us.
This Sunday is Palm Sunday. The children of Hope and tens of thousands of other Christian churches the world over will be handing out palm leaves to celebrate the arrival of the Lord.
Instead of simply receiving a cut frond this Sunday, consider receiving the real peace of Christ. It will last longer and stay greener than any floral display on the altar. I guarantee it!
Pastor Ken
NOTE: Unless otherwise stated, all Bible verses quoted in this website are from the New International Version (NIV). Any words from those verses that are in "red" are words spoken by Jesus.
Pastor Ken sends a Weekly Newsletter that includes his devotional message for the week and an update of the current happenings at Hope Church. If you would like to receive his newsletter, just click below and he'll add your email address to his list of subscribers.