Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things. Isaiah 40:26.

We walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV.

Jesus said to (Thomas), “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 NKJV.

You didn’t choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit. John 15:16.

Our chapter, Hebrews 5, begins understanding of why Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, chooses all we cannot begin to imagine culminating in joyful peace in Him. For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God. In order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You”; just as He says also in another passage, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

What is joyful peace? It’s opening our eyes and hearts to see Creator God IS. We who get so bogged down in the divisive strife of politics which has nothing to do with God’s kingdom, cannot see how ignorant and misguided and weak those alternate realities are. Jesus, the Son, came to show us the reality of God’s kingdom. Can we come and step into the life He offers us now with Him? It’s hard letting go of everything here actively causing divisions and strife and anger and hate. But we can enter into His rest each day with His help by looking forward with Him to the hope He brings for all of us. That is the vantage point He brings of seeing God’s love for us. We can only get there with Him. Ah, but the fruit we begin to bear born in His love grows deep roots and we are renewed daily. I need His renewing daily as I am impacted by how much I don’t yet understand when I am pulled into the sway of this world turned away from His love. And my joy is found in trusting Him. He is my peace and hope for all of us.