AT THE FEET OF JESUS I RECEIVE PEACE IN MY HEART
Sakkie Parsons
Some years ago, someone sent my wife, who is now with Jesus, a chorus of a song on her phone. We both enjoyed the beautiful chorus although we could not find the complete song at that time.
Then later when my wife was diagnosed with dementia and still later ending up in a nursing home’s division for the frail elderly because I could not care for her any longer by myself, I often when I walked to her with my guide dog Pedro, or on my way back home and I am so deeply saddened, quietly by myself sang the chorus of that beautiful song.
Then although the sadness often stayed, I experienced a peacefully calmness because I know our Jesus and I know what He Himself said to us as well what His Word tells us regarding Him.
Before I share with you what our Lord showed me, I first share with you the words of the chorus which always comforted and calmed me in my great sorrow over the extremely difficult circumstances in which I found myself when I walk and sing it in my heart:
At the feet of Jesus is salvation
At the feet of Jesus is healing
At the feet of Jesus is God’s Grace
At the feet of Jesus is peace for you
(Translated from Afrikaans)
Let me point out to you why you and I in spite of satan’s attacks on us, could experience wonderful peace, not the peace of this world, but Godly Divine peace. We, who accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour –
Because He gave it to us, we simply need to receive it in faith and make it our own:
JOHN 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
The chorus speaks of “At the feet of Jesus”
I want to share with you now about a woman that according to the Word at three separate occasions knelt at Jesus’ feet and our Lord attached so much value to what she did that He recorded all three times in His holy Word as an example for us.
The first event is found in LUKE 10:38-42
38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."
41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,
42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
The second event is found in JOHN 12:1-8
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at the table.
3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said,
5 "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?"
6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.
The third event is found in JOHN 11:31-33
31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.
Before I go any further I want to quickly show you something. We read:
11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.
Sometimes, because we live in a broken sinful world, our Lord allows things in our lives, because eventually it is the only way that will work out for the best for us, as in this case.
Do not think that when you, true child of our Lord, are upset or moved, you are alone?
Jesus who loves you so much that He was willing to hung on the Cross so that you can be with Him one day, is certainly deeply moved with you and though you walk the road that you walk in this sinful world because of its sinful condition, and you can barely see through your tears in your spiritually eyes, believe me and call out in your spirit: “Praise the Name of our Lord!”
For Jesus walks full of compassion right next to you and He knows your pain – just as you have read:
JOHN 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.
Three times in God’s Word, He shows us through the same woman where the best place in the whole universe is to be – also with your sadness and pain and that is at the feet of Jesus.
There were times that I was so grieved that I struggled to breath. Then I just fall in my spirit at the feet of Jesus and He reminds me of His promise – and then I take His peace that He promised:
JOHN 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
How is it possible for me to calm down peacefully when I remember this promise of my Jesus?
Because I surely remember these words from my Jesus and I know with great certainty:
ROM 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Therefore, in the Spirit on our knees at the feet of Jesus, we can jubilant proclaim:
1PET 1:3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith–more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire–may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls
In closing I would joyfully like to share with you this beautiful Afrikaans song: “Aan die voete van Jesus” with the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcumedCUvBg&sns=em
Greetings,
Sakkie