May 11, 2021 – Reflections on “Keys to Love, Joy, and Peace!”

In 2012, I left my busy retired life behind to live in a new home in a different state. So many things to learn. After sixty years of marriage, I had to learn new ways and meet the prospect of the death of my husband and father of our children with the diagnosis of Dementia.

In the years that followed deaths of our oldest son, then the death of a grandson, then the death of my youngest brother, came before my husband’s death.

There were care-giving decisions to make, shared with our son and his wife. God taught me many things along the way.

After nine years, I looked at the table in my bedroom table and saw the wooden key box I brought from Arkansas. What is inside? I opened it and found many keys. With a jolt, I realized not one key looked familiar. I didn’t remember what any of the keys would open.

Suddenly I realized that not constantly reading and studying God’s Word, I would not have the understanding, the key, to the treasures within. This God—His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him. Psalm 18:30.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore, I hate every false way. Psalm 119:103-104.

The first three words of the Fruit of the Spirit lead to many righteous ways that are pleasing to our Lord God—Love, Joy, and Peace. (Galatians 5:22-23). In just a few letters, these words lead to the transformation of a person’s life.

Love leads to living Kindness, Goodness, and Faithfulness to others and serving others. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. Psalm 36:7-8.

Who is this God of Love? Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. I John 4:7-8.

Joy leads to a jubilant life of thanksgiving and wisdom. Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted. Isaiah 49:13.

         “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12.

 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:10-11.

Peace comes from practicing patience in prayer in the name of Jesus. What man is there who desires life and loves many days that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry. Psalm 34:12-15.

Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. Psalm 85:7-9.

These three terms—Love, Joy, and Peace, are signs that mark our way in the path of righteousness and faithfulness to Jesus, God’s Only Son.

When we want to be friends with someone, we try to learn what pleases them. What pleases our God? “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” Exodus 20:7, 

My sixth graders lined up at the door one day. One boy uttered God’s name casually. I asked him what he wanted to say. He looked bewildered, and asked, “What?”

I told him, “You just said God’s Name, He is listening. What did you want to ask Him?” The silence that fell across the room touched me.

Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2.

For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:8-11.

          Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25.

          For to the one who pleases Him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. Ecclesiastes 2:26.

         So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Colossians 1:10-12.

          For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not You? For You are our glory and joy. I Thessalonians 2:19-20.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:12-13.