December 14, 2021 -- Luke 14:31-33 -- Battles on every side and ready to make peace.

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:31-33 ESV

What a parable! What a graphic description of our circumstances. We think we have all we need for the battles of life, but the world, the devil and even our own evil desires are rising up against us seeking to take us down! The question is: with whom should this king seek terms of peace? The clue is found in verse 33—when a man confronted by Jesus, sees all the power of Jesus and His ability to conquer all enemies on every side—one's own evil desires, His power to heal sickness, calm raging storms, cast out demons and bear the punishment of God against our sins—it would be foolish to side with the devil rather than run to Jesus.

The devil will demand everything. Any addict will tell you, one hit or one puff is too many, and ten thousand is never enough. The devil uses our own vices and lusts against ourselves so that we are swallowed up into death. He is a tyrant.

Jesus tells us, up front, His condition for peace: complete surrender of all things to Him. We renounce all we have and all we are and put our lives in His hands. Look at the security and peace which follows such surrender:

Jesus taught His disciples: no one and nothing can snatch us out of God’s Hands (John 10:29).

Jesus is not a tyrant, He has done the heavy lifting so that we might be called children of God. He calls out, are you weary, carrying heavy burdens, let Me shoulder this load. Burdens of sin. Burdens of guilt. Burdens of unworthiness. (Matthew 11:28-29).

Jesus is a warrior. Believers are in a battle to end all battles. Our Champion, Jesus is the Rider of the White Horse. Jesus is called: “Faithful” and “True” and He judges all the earth in righteousness and makes war. From His mouth comes a sharp sword that is used to strike down the nations (Revelation 19:11-16). All He needs to do is speak and rank upon rank of enemy soldiers fall before Him.

So, you ready to run to Jesus and make peace with Him?

Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
     for His judgments are true and just;
for He has judged the great prostitute
     who corruption the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.
Praise our God,
   all you his servants,
you who fear him,
   small and great.
Amen.
Revelation 19:1b-2,5 ESV

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