Peace on Earth

by Dec 11, 2015Easy and Light

Peace on Earth

And He shall be their peace.

Micah 5:5a (ESV)

T his week my advent reading led me to the book of Micah, prophet to the people of Israel and Judah. It’s not exactly a feel-good book. Micah’s job was to warn people that their sins were great and judgment was coming. “All your idols will be broken, all the temple gifts will be burned…[you will] writhe in pain, waiting for relief…” (Micah 1:7,12). God’s people had fallen away from Him and were worshiping other gods. Their world was full of war and sin and pain. We can look around at our world and think the same. There is war, famine, terrorism, disease, and death – and so much pain. We cannot imagine a world of peace. And neither could they.
Thank you, Lord, that my peace in you does not depend on my circumstances! Allow me to find comfort and rest in your when things feel chaotic and overwhelming.

Yet this is what God promises in the book of Micah: A shepherd will rise up and lead His people with strength and majesty. Seven hundred years later, a baby was born in the town of Bethlehem, fulfilling over 300 prophecies written centuries before. The people expected this Savior would bring instant peace; that all their enemies would be defeated and He would establish a kingdom here on earth. But that is not what happened. He led a simple life, never became a king, and died a sinner’s death.

“Peace on earth” is still an illusion, thousands of years later. Peace in my house is an illusion, to be honest. So often my circumstances are not peaceful. I feel stressed, worried, and overwhelmed. So where is peace in a world that is full of turmoil?

The peace that God promised thousands of years ago was not the absence of war, or death, or pain. In fact, we are told we will have trouble in this world. (John 17:33) But we have a Savior who overcame the world through His defeat of sin on the Cross. Jesus is our Source of Peace, and our peace of mind comes from knowing that His Presence will never leave us here on earth, and that we will spend eternity with Him in heaven.

Our Faithful Partner

Our Faithful PartnerThus says the LORD: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce, with which I sent her away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was sent...

Waiting on Peace

Waiting on PeaceI waited patiently for the Lord;    he turned to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1 (NIV)A while back I made a horrible mistake and I ended up causing some dear friends an incredible amount of pain. I took responsibility for my actions and apologized...

Hearing for the Holidays

Hearing for the HolidaysA fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. Proverbs 18:2 (NIV)As much as I would love for my family holidays to reflect the lyrics of the Christmas music we hear at this time of year, for most of us, having a...