Life and Peace – Week Three
Peace. A longing in my soul for something that speaks to the pain and trouble of this world. A hope for something that can soothe my brokenness and reconcile my disappointments.
Peace. A greeting and prayer that opens most New Testament letters. A fruit of God’s Spirit in our lives.
Peace. The proclamation of angels and the promise of Jesus.
Consider the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus as the angels proclaimed this peace on earth. A census wreaked havoc. Government bureaucracy upturned lives bringing significant disruption as all men returned to their place of birth. Streets and businesses overflowed with people. The number of travelers far outpaced the little town of Bethlehem’s tourist capacity.
The nation of Israel, though inhabited by the Jewish people, remained under Roman rule. The Roman leaders were often violent and unjust. Herod’s reaction to hearing about this newborn King resulted in every baby in Bethlehem under two years old murdered.
Is this the peace on earth the angels proclaimed? Surely not!
Years passed, as the baby Jesus grew into a man. Fulfilling His earthly ministry, He preached God’s Kingdom come to earth. Then, Jesus was crucified and placed in a tomb – all hope buried with Him. But He rose from the dead, conquering death and offering real-life to all humankind.
Before His return to heaven, Jesus promised He would be with His followers, never leaving or forsaking them. Yet, these faithful disciples were brutally killed for their faith, except one who was exiled.
Is this the peace Jesus promised? How do we reconcile the suffering, disease, and hurt of the world with God’s presence?
Some questions have no easy answer. Often pain is too deep to express with words and suffering beyond our ability to grapple with.
But in all this, peace is possible.
Peace doesn’t begin with the natural – what we can see and control. Peace originates within us as God’s Spirit transforms. It is only then that peace overflows from our hearts into our thoughts, words, and actions.
“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6 NASB)
God’s peace is not shallow. It doesn’t ignore pain or pretend everything is okay. Instead, through the Spirit, peace mourns what is not right while holding onto hope.
Listen to the beautiful expression from Romans 8, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God… For we know the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan without ourselves, waiting eagerly for the adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:18-19, 22-23)
Peace. The now and not yet. The longing for redemption. Groaning under the weight and pain of this world. A joining with creation in anticipation of a new day.
Peace. An internal transformation, not a perfect alignment of our external circumstances. A changing of our mindset, a new perspective, and inner strength.
Peace. An overflow of hope. A desire for reconciliation. A gentleness and meekness that changes our world. An expression of God in the midst of hurt.
Glory to God in the highest! And on earth, peace to men.
Your words are deep and strengthening to those of us who seem to have relinquished God’s peace for carnal worry. As I read again, this time somewhat slower and with a cadance much like “It is well with my soul, my heartbeat levels out to a normal healthy pace. This Christmas all I ask God for is a measure of his peace overriding circumstances that I can’t control but instead seem to be controlling me. Yes, I’m thankful for Baby Jesus lying in a manger, but this grown up Jesus I now know gave me the gift of salvation by doing something he didn’t want to do…that’s the gift that’s packaged in peace when opened and accepted. I pray many prayers asking, but finish asking for HIS will to be done and to wrap me in his arms of peace while he’s unwrapping his plan.