by Nick Osborne
December 13, 2024
“Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘May peace be on this house.’"
~ Jesus, in Luke 10:5
"Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children."
~ Jesus, in Matthew 5:9
The theme for the second week of Advent is peace. Every Advent when it comes to this week I think to myself how relevant the message of peace is for our world. This year is no exception.
Look around. Sadly, there is ample evidence of conflict globally, locally, possibly relationally in our own lives, and maybe within our own heart. Wherever we look, peace seems to be in short supply.
If you have read devotionals or listened to sermons on the topic of peace, you likely already know that the peace Jesus offers is more than the absence of conflict. In the words of Cornelius Plantinga, biblical peace is universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight representing the way things ought to be. It also represents the way things will be. The Old Testament word that best captures this idea is shalom. In the New Testament it's called salvation.
When we look at the concept of peace this way, it becomes clear why Jesus would tell his followers in Luke 10 to pronounce peace wherever they go. Pronouncing peace is actually spiritual warfare. It pushes back the darkness and creates space for God's Kingdom, and when God's Kingdom comes, restoration and transformation occur.
Another way to put it is peace is the calling and the only mission for followers of Jesus in the world today, because bringing God's peace means blessing the world with flourishing, wholeness, and delight.
Peace broke into the world in a new way with the Incarnation of "God with us" and peace is the way things will be when Jesus returns. However, in the meantime, Jesus tells us, "Don't just sit on your blessed assurance and wait around for me to come again. You go today, as my follower and representative, to bring peace, offer peace, and broker peace in the world around you."
That said, we cannot give what we haven't first received.
PAUSE and REFLECT
Are you a person of peace? By that I mean are you experiencing peace within your own heart while also offer peace to and brokering peace in the world around you?
Here are two quotes we shared earlier this week on Instagram that we can consider today:
"In a world torn by rage and anxiety, one of the greatest gifts followers of Jesus are called to offer is a simple, non-anxious presence. Not a presence removed from reality but a presence that refuses to be shaped and influenced by it."~ Rich Villodas
This is well and good. However, keep in mind this next quote:
"First keep peace with yourself. Then you can also bring peace to others."~ Thomas à Kempis
What needs to happen in your life for you to fully embrace and receive peace in your soul?
NEXT STEPS (by Jamie and Nick Osborne)
1. Consider what robs you of peace most frequently. Common peace-robbers include certain people or relationships, environments, situations, responsibilities, illness, work, the news, extended family, justice issues, finances, etc.
What stole your peace in the past week? Over the past year what has had the most power to rob you of peace?
2. What activities, people, or practices increase your peace? These could be certain hobbies, restful people, exercise, being in nature, prayer, bible reading, listening to music, solitude, etc.
The Christmas season is hectic. Where can you intentionally build in some of these peace building activities, people, or practices in the coming week? Put peace on your calendar!
3. Where are you called to bring peace in the world around you? Are there relationships in your life where God is asking you to be a more peaceful presence? Is there conflict in your family, workplace, or neighbourhood where you can be a peacemaker?
Begin praying for one area of conflict in your life (whether you are personally involved in it or an observer of it) and ask God for one step you can take this week to be the presence of peace in that place.
For the rest of this Advent season, begin every interaction with blessing and pronounce peace on every physical space you visit, including your own home.
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