Peace On Earth
The email from our bank was to notify us that they had declined two charges yesterday."As part of our ongoing effort to protect your account and our relationship, we monitor your account for possible fraudulent activity."Unfortunately, dear Bank who is wanting to protect our relationship, the charges you declined were for the citizenship applications we needed expedited. Thanks to your "ongoing effort," our application is now delayed and our tight timeline has been derailed. (Sigh. Moving on to Plan B.)_ _ _"... for possible fraudulent activity."In this instance, bank, your proactivity is not appreciated.Being ahead of the game. Stopping a problem before it happens. Running pre-interference.Hmmm. This is the reality of today's world. We fight against the potential of attack. We battle supposed evil. We have to. To not, is too great a risk.And so we've added this as a cultural goal: evil is to be avoided at all costs. Even if it means losing the good with the bad. Apparently, the loss of good is worth the eradication of evil.And so the baby goes out with the bath water._ _ _What does "Peace on earth" (Luke 2:14) look like?The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6-7) said, "Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." (Luke 12:51 ESV)"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.” (John 16:33 ESV)"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 ESV)"Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36 ESV)"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28 ESV)_ _ _What I see in God's Word is that "peace on earth" is not an absence of turmoil. "Peace on earth" is what the Spirit of God brings in the midst of evil.As Yahweh's children, as disciples of Christ, as a people filled with the Holy Spirit: Should our pursuit be to eradicate evil? Or to be filled with His Peace in days of evil?Praying today that my heart and mind will be filled with His perspective and His truth. I don't want my Faith to be shaped by culture or by fear. I don't want to be motivated by the desire to avoid discomfort and pain. I don't want to miss out on the good things in my quest to avoid bad things.May we allow the Spirit of God indwelling in us, His people, to be the radiant, brilliant, blinding "peace on Earth." So that God's glory is seen by all.Selah.
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" (Luke 2:14 ESV)