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Commentary on "Optimism: Happiness and Healing"
Day 6: Thursday, June 10, 2010 - A Merry Heart--Practical Optimism!
Overview
Today’s lesson continues the theme of obtaining health benefits by choosing to cultivate a merry heart and a strong relationship with God. Isaiah 26:1-4 is cited, which speaks of God keeping us in perfect peace when our minds are stayed on Him. The question is asked, “What changes do you need to make in order to have a better relationship with the Lord?”
Observations
The Lessons’ theme for the entire week has been captured today in one word, “cultivation.” Cultivating a positive attitude and nurturing our relationship with Christ, we are here told, are the keys to health and happiness. What is again missing in this discussion is the solid foundation of peace with God.
Isaiah 26 teaches us that keeping our minds stayed on Him is essential to peace. Our relationship with God begins after making peace, for we begin life at war with Him (Rom. 5:1, Ephesians 2:1-3). Perfect peace depends on our minds staying on, and submitting to Him, the Perfect One. But how do we remain steadfast? “Because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3), that is the how of steadfastness.
When Jesus ends our war with Him, we are kept from evil. “We have a strong city,” the same song in Isaiah begins, for salvation has provided strong walls to protect those inside. Vs. 2, “Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.” Salvation is only for the righteous nation to claim as its security. That being so, how can that demand give us confidence and peace?
Verse 12 tells us,
“O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.”
God is the righteous and steadfast One who does the works of righteousness that provide salvation.
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1
His record of saving is perfect, and that is why we can trust Him. He will nurture and cultivate us when we trust Him, and give us staying power to the end.
Conclusions
- Keeping our minds stayed on God is the key to peace.
- We have to make peace with God, with whom we all have been at war.
- Our steadfastness comes from His steadfastness, because we trust in Him.
- We can trust in Him because He is our Righteousness, has “indeed done for us all our works.”
Copyright 2010 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised June 10, 2010. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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