Peace. We all want peace. I’m even willing to say
that we need peace.
Consider Isaiah 1.16-18…
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your doings
from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
17 learn to do good;
seek justice,
rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan,
plead for the widow.
18 Come now, let us argue it out,
says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be like snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
Listen up: God is merciful and kind; what God wants
is for us to be at peace. Our brokenness is made
whole by the goodness of God.
Sure, perhaps this is easy to believe on an
individual level. But what about the world, right?
Everywhere we turn we hear of war or rumor of war.
And if the faux news reports aren’t adding fuel to
the fire of hate, violence, and fear, then chances
are they are reporting on what seems to be the earth
turning in on itself. Earthquakes, hurricanes, and
wildfires range alongside us as a result of our
neglect to properly care for the earth. Things are
changing; there’s no doubt about it.
To say September has been an overwhelming month is
an understatement. Where do we turn for answers?
Where do we look for love? How is peace ever going
to be achieved? There’s so much angst in the world
I'm willing to bet most of us, even the most
Reformed Presbyterians, offer up a Hail Mary for
some relief.
Fortunate for you I have the answer to peace. You
ready?
Start within. While we may not be able to control
the actions of others, we can control our own. If we
want peace, we must begin with making peace in our
own lives.
Think of it this way, okay? Almost everyone has had
to perform at some point in life. Whether it was for
a recital, a game, or speech, practicing was a part
of the process leading up to the performance. If we
wanted to perform well, it began with how we
practiced. The same goes for peace. If we want peace
in the world, we start with cultivating peace
within.
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How do you do that you ask? Easy: pray.
Take the time to be with Divine Love. Like, really
take the time. The way you take time to sit with
your beloved or your best friend. When we do this,
we will arrive at the door leading to peace. (See
Revelation 3.20)
This peace is the Divine within you. It is the same
peace Jesus offers to the disciples in John.
Remember? Jesus said to them and us:
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not
your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Christ dwells at the center of who we are and the
longer we remain there, choosing the ‘better part,’
the easier peace will come into our lives because
God, by the Spirit, transforms us into Christ and we
become agents of peace. Of course, this can’t happen
until we “argue it out” with God. Who, by the way,
will always have the last word which will be…
blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be
called children of God.
Do you want peace?
Start close in. Take the first step towards God’s
mercy and love. God will lead you to where you need
to go: yourself.
After all, that’s where the Holy dwells...
[Adam Quine, pastor of First Presbyterian Church
in Lincoln] |
