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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Many of my sermons start with “Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.” These aren’t my words. They’re Paul’s – used as he wrote to greet the churches and leaders. With all the conflict we see between politicians, races, nations, religious groups, and even sports rivals I truly pray God’s peace comes to each of us as we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace this month and throughout the year.
Conflict isn’t the way God wanted things. The word “peace” comes from the Hebrew word “shalom (שָׁלוֹם).” “Shalom,” in its original meaning, has a sense of “completeness, intactness, and unity.” It’s much more than a “lack of conflict.” Entities at “shalom” lack nothing … they’re complete, intact, and unified – each supplying whatever the other might need without concern for any future needs. This is the way God created all things (Genesis 1:26-2:3).
During Advent we spend time preparing to receive the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. God sent His Son into the world 2000 years ago. He has already come into the world. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He has already set the stage for true peace to reenter His creation. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we believe in Jesus’ promise of forgiveness and eternal life. Through this forgiveness, Jesus has made peace between us and God. However, we know that not everyone is at peace with our Father. Many still can’t believe in His gift to us.
But God is patient; “He is not slow to fulfill His promise … He is patient … not wishing that any should perish, but all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) As our Father waits, we also wait in faith for the Prince of Peace’s glorious return, when He will fully and completely restore “shalom.” While we wait, He calls us to break the vicious cycle of conflict by spreading His peace in our words and deeds to any and all we meet.
May the Peace of God be with you always,
Pastor Jim