1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian PEACE

get indignant with Jesus and exclaim,“How can He sleep in this storm?!” That indignation turned to fear as they wondered whether Jesus would do anything to help them. We read how they woke Jesus and Jesus spoke strongly to His disciples by saying to them, “Why are you not at peace? I am with you.” And He rebuked the storm and the sea was then calmed. Once again we realise that the presence of Jesus in turbulent situations is the source of peace. Prayer Thought: Maybe today you are going through a storm, won’t you take time as you pray today to find the presence of Jesus with you in the midst of the circumstances that youface. When you do this, I know that you will feel strengthened and reenergisedso that youcanface the circumstances before you. Remember the presence of Jesus makes all the difference. WEDNESDAY Exodus 25 v 10 – 22 The reading today is an intriguing one. It includes the instruction from God to Moses as to the building of the Ark of the Covenant. The criteria for its building are detailed and very specific. The box was to be made of acacia wood; it was to be about 4ft by 2.5ft by 2.5ft big, overlaid with gold and gold rings were to be placed on each corner. Two cherubim were to be constructed on the lid of the box and with their wings stretched out they were to face one another. Between these two cherubim was an indentation called the Mercy Seat. It was here, at the Mercy Seat, that God said that He would meet with Moses. The picture here is phenomenal. The Ark of the Covenant was to be placed in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and ultimately in the temple. It was into this space that the high priest would enter once a year with a blood offering. He would pour the blood onto the Mercy Seat as a sign of repentance for the sins of the people and to receive God’s forgiveness on their behalf. As much as Scripture said that God would meet Moses at the Mercy Seat, the same is true for us today. God still meets us at the Mercy Seat upon which Christ’s blood was poured. The key for our understanding today is that mercy and peace go hand-in-hand. You can have mercy without peace, but you cannot have peace without mercy. I suppose another way to put it would bethat you cannot have the peace of God without having peace with God. As much as the high priest sought forgiveness of the people as an individual, today we as individuals have the opportunity to seek peace with God, one on one. My question to you today is, have you met God at the Mercy Seat of Christ’s sacrifice? If you have, then that is wonderful! But maybe today you are one who has heard the gospel many times, maybe sat in Church Sunday after Sunday and listened to sermon after sermon, but have never made a personal journey to the

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