PEACE SENT
Peace. This much sought after reality has been desired by countries, peoples, families, and humanity since that day in Genesis 3 that peace was lost by humanity choosing self over God. Since that day, peace has been a desired but seemingly unrealistic reality. In our day, peace is still a longed-for reality as we want an end to political divisions, racial strife, financial disparity, injustice, and much more. We are longing for peace.
As we reflect on the first coming of Christ, we are reminded that as Jesus was born all those years ago, He came with the angels proclaiming “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors. (Luke 2:14)” We are even reminded that a prophet speaking of the coming of Christ declared,
“For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
(Isaiah 9:6)
The heavens proclaimed Jesus to be bringing this longed for peace and He indeed would be the Prince of Peace. Why then does peace still seem so distant in 2020?
First of all, Jesus’ peace is only available to those who believe in Him for salvation. Jesus first came to close the gap between God and us. He offered peace with God through His life, death, and resurrection. This was the first and ultimate peace that we needed that’s available to anyone who will trust in Jesus for their salvation.
Second, Jesus’ universal peace that brings an end to suffering, divisions, injustice, and brokenness is yet to come. The prophet Isaiah said of Jesus’ coming peace, “The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end … to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.” (Isaiah 9:7) For those who have trusted Christ, we can look forward to the day that Jesus restores the peace we all long to experience.
As we live with anticipation of this future peace, the church has been commissioned to be sent with peace. We are to be an invitation to believe in Christ to experience this peace and a demonstration of this coming universal peace. This is why Grace Alive is an army, not an audience. Audience’s consume. Army’s advance. Audience’s focus on self. Army’s focus on the mission. The audience seeks comfortability for themselves. Army’s sacrifice for the mission. We are to be an army sent with the peace of Christ.
How does an army sent with the Peace of Christ take shape? It looks like us living on mission and proclaiming the good news of peace that can be found in Jesus Christ in our schools, workplaces, homes, and relationships. This looks like a team gathering after worship services for Caught & Taught to learn how to share the gospel and then go into a neighborhood and meet people and share the gospel.
This also looks like us living so that we give a glimpse of the universal peace to come. This looks like us seeing the areas of brokenness in our city and bringing peace on earth through Christmas toys. This looks like us seeing the growing homelessness and bringing peace on earth through a meal or a shower. This looks like us seeing our city's financial disparity and offering a thanksgiving meal for some families struggling in this time of economic difficulty. This looks like the church stepping into our neighborhoods and cities' brokenness to bring as much peace on earth as we can before Christ brings that ultimate peace.
How are you being sent to proclaim the peace found in Jesus Christ and demonstrate the peace of the coming Christ? May we be sent, in Christ’s peace.
Related Posts
