Reading… and Thinking

Daily Readings: Job 9 Micah 5 James 1

This is the season of “Peace on Earth”. It is the time when the Christian world celebrates the birth of the Lord Jesus. We hear the carols lilting seasonal tunes on iPods, television, and radios in stores. The words of the angels to the shepherds sound forth, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14) If we’re really fortunate, we hear Handel’s Messiah performed by a group of talented musicians. And today, in our readings, we see the prophecy of Messiah’s birth in the town of Bethlehem. God declares, “From you (Bethlehem) one will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.” v.2

What I really wanted to take a moment to focus on, is the idea that Jesus was/is intended, in an ultimate sense, to be the vehicle of peace. Verse 5 says of him,

“This one will be our peace.”

It’s such a simple phrase but it carries such depth of meaning that it should take our breath away.

He can be our peace in our small, individual (but very important to us – and to God) lives as disciples – followers of Jesus. He can calm our storms, heal our ills, cast out our tormenting demons of mental thought patterns opposed to God. He can shepherd our silly sheepishness “in the strength of the Lord and the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.” v. 4 He can guide us, rescue us, teach us, feed us and tenderly care for us in our little and seemingly insignificant lives (when we look at the grand scale of things.) Our peace. How amazing! How comforting!

But then we take it to the ultimate level which is implied in the angels’ announcement, both at his birth, and here in Micah. He will be peace that touches every life on this planet, as the King of Kings ruler, “because at that time he will be great to the ends of the earth.” v.4 He will be truly awesome in the display of power and righteous judgment that he performs in the kingdoms of men. God’s “goodwill toward men” will be embodied in the actions the Lord Jesus takes to establish his throne forever when he takes his father- David’s – seat and rules from Jerusalem. (Luke 1:22) He will be announced by the voice of archangels and resurrect multitudinous peoples that have died throughout history, to join him in administering justice to the nations. (Revelation 4:9-12, 7:9-12, 11:15-18)

So peace from God takes a variety of forms. It is a fruit of His spirit. His Beloved Son was destined to be “our peace” – in both the immediate and ultimate sense.

May we welcome and enhance the workings of peace in the midst of our days as we await the final outworking of God’s plan for eternal peace on earth for all that would come to Him through His Son – the babe born in Bethlehem. The Prince of Peace.