I’m a person who hates conflict. I go out of my way to avoid it. I hate when I have a disagreement with my wife, my children, or a co-worker. I just want everyone to get along, to be at peace.
Peace – it is such an elusive concept. It is something we all long for, but very few have found. Millions of dollars and countless hours are spent by diplomats in search of peace, yet it seems all for naught, as conflicts escalate and thousands of innocents suffer the consequences. “‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.” (Jeremiah 6:14 NIV).
Today, September 21, is the International Day of Peace. This day was established by the United Nations in 1981 “…as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.” (https://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday)
Unfortunately, as I watch the news, it appears this effort by the UN has been a dismal failure. Everywhere we look wars rage, conflicts brew, and people suffer. Overwhelmed by what I see my heart echoes the Psalmist when he declared, “Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.” (Psalm 120:6,7).
However, all is not lost. Jesus came to this world “to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:79). There is reason for hope. Jesus is our hope. He alone can “guide our feet into the path of peace.”
All the negotiations of diplomats, the manuvering of governments, the well-meaning declarations of the UN are doomed to failure, but Jesus says, “…take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Someday soon Jesus will come again and finally and forever make “wars cease to the ends of the earth.” (Psalm 46:9).
Until that day, we, His people, have a work to do. We are called to “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:14).
You may not have the power to make “wars cease to the ends of the earth”, but you can seek to bring peace to your little corner of it. You can “love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you…” (Matthew 5:44 KJV) You can strive every day to “live at peace with everyone”, because “God has called us to live in peace.” (Romans 12:18, 1 Cor. 7:15 NIV).
Today, on this International Day of Peace, in spite of the conflicts all around you, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:15),. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3) and “encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.” (2 Corinthians 13:11).
Peace may be an elusive concept, but with Jesus in your life everyday can be a Day of Peace. So have a Happy Sabbath and “may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” (2 Thess. 3:16).