Advent - Peace
THE GOSPEL OF PEACE -
Peace. How is it that something so readily available can also be so very illusive? We worship the Prince of Peace. The peace He gives us is not like the world’s version. Jesus offers to guard our hearts and our minds with peace so amazing that it transcends all of our understanding.
And yet, we live in a world full of conflict. Part of which lives inside of us.
We’re full of stress, anxiety, depression, and a general need to be in control of our own lives. As followers of Jesus, these things shouldn’t define our lives, and yet….
And yet we live in a fallen world that does everything in its power to take away our peace. It’s a war for the peace in our souls.
Ephesians 6:10-12 tells us “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
While body armor will keep away arrows, helmets will protect our head, and swords will give us a way to defend ourselves - can you imagine walking into a battle without shoes?
It’s no accident that Paul made our shoes the Gospel of Peace.
Shoes aren’t generally what we think of when we think of armor, but if you have everything else fitted just right but walk out barefoot - how far are you really going to get? You would most likely be in pain with every step, as you pass over all kinds of harsh landscape. Ultimately, it would inhibit your ability to fight.
Just like a loss of peace will inhibit your ability to live a life fully devoted to Jesus.
Our shoes equip us to walk through rough areas. In the same way, having hope in Jesus helps us walk through the trials we face. John 16:33 says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
If we have peace that only Jesus can give, peace that passes all of our understanding, then we can walk through any and every situation that the world throws at us because the bedrock layer in our souls is at peace.
While “peace” is a gift that the Spirit gives us, Jesus also knows that it will be a fight to stay at “perfect peace”. Psalm 34:14 tells us “seek peace and pursue it”. It doesn’t just say “know that you have it”, it says SEEK AND PURSUE. It’s active. It’s something you actually have to do.
We cannot walk into the battle of daily life expecting peace to rule when we haven’t actively prepared ourselves with the “readiness of the gospel of peace”. The good news of knowing that Jesus is in perfect control and that we can trust Him has to be actively fought for in our messed up minds. Seek peace. Pursue peace.
How can you seek peace today in your daily life? How can you pursue peace as part of who you are?
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3
This is how. It always comes back to Jesus. Are your thoughts fixed on Jesus today? If not, don’t forget it’s not a given - it’s a battle. Seek Jesus. Pursue Jesus. Peace will be the bi-product.
