Meditation

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.   John 14:27

In the world today, it is hard to see his Peace: Afghanistan, international and domestic terrorism, climate change, prejudice, raging forest fires, flooded homes, dying species, Covid, cancer, lower church attendance.

What is peace? Too often we think in terms of political agreements or armies or law enforcement or economics. All of these can be helpful but they don’t bring peace. They can only create an absence of conflict and only until someone lashes out.

In France today, they are holding the trial for the perpetrators of the worst terrorist attack in their nation. Hopefully, the trial will bring about some closure for the victims and their families. Unfortunately, it can’t bring lasting peace. Only the Prince of Peace can do it. He works through changing hearts.  

We can’t enforce peace, not with our police, our armies, our courts or our guns. We can’t create peace with our diplomats, with treaties or with financial incentives. We can only restrain conflict.

What we can do is share the Good News. We can aid in bringing people back and introducing those who don’t know to the salvation found in the love of Christ.
We can answer God’s call to teach the Gospel. We can love our neighbor. We can build up the church with our time, our talents and our gifts. We can reconcile with God and live the peace of a changed heart.

Let us commit to letting the Spirit work through us bringing true peace.
Blessed are the peacemakers.