A Season of Anticipation

Presenting the Peace of Christ

“All of these new things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who gave us the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, God was reconciling the world to himself through Christ, by not counting people’s sins against them. He has trusted us with this message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors   who represent Christ.”

–2 Corinthians 18-20

We now await the second coming of Christ which will usher in Shalom for all of creation.

In the same way that John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for Christ,  we, the Church, are to be Christ’s ambassadors, declaring peace with God through Christ to prepare the world for Christ’s return.

Worship

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Songs of Peace for Advent       (Week 2)

The Coming of Shalom

This past week we contemplated hope and anticipation.  We read about Israel’s hope for Messiah.  We considered the hope we have in Christ Jesus.  This week we turn our thoughts toward peace.

One of the things often hoped for this time of year is peace:  peace on earth, within ourselves, and with others.  This year peace seems especially far off. 

 When you think of peace, you may think of an absence of conflict.  The Hebrew word for peace is Shalom, and it is so much more than simply the end of conflict.  Shalom, God’s peace, represents completion and wholeness.  Shalom is about people and relationships restored and made right.  It is about complete wholeness and well-being in our lives and in the world.  Check out this video:  https://bibleproject.com/advent-word-series-churches/ 

Christ’s arrival was the advent of Shalom:  Peace on Earth.  Jesus did not bring the kind of peace people wanted, instead He brought the peace we needed.  He ushered in Peace with God.

Ways to Pray in Week 2

• Ask God to fill your heart with Shalom and teach you what it means to live in wholeness.
• Pray for those who need peace with God through  Christ.
• Pray for broken relationships to be restored.
• Pray for opportunities to share the peace of Christ.
• Pray for those who need healing and wholeness.
• Pray for world areas with intense conflict and war.

Daily Readings

Sunday: Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 2:13-14

Monday: Micah 5:5

Tuesday: Isaiah 32:17

Wednesday: Romans 5:1

Thursday: Ephesians  2:14-15

Friday: Colossians 3:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Saturday: John 8:34-36

Living out Shalom

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.” (John 14:27)

God has extended Shalom to us; through Jesus we have peace with God.  Through Jesus we are renewed, transformed, and made whole.  We may still be learning to walk in this wholeness, to live it out, but it is our reality in Christ nonetheless. 

So, how can we live out Shalom this Advent season?  We begin by accepting the peace offered through Christ. We then begin to offer others the restoration and wholeness we have received.

• Peace with God: Have you accepted God’s offer of peace? Do you rest in the truth that you have true peace with God through Jesus Christ? Are you still trying earn the peace that God has freely given?   Read Romans 5:1
• Peace with your past: Have you allowed God’s peace to invade your past, bringing wholeness and healing into your brokenness?  Ask God to shine a light on anything you might be holding back, or areas in you that need healing.  Read  Isaiah 53:5, Colossians 1:19-23
• Peace in your heart and mind: Do you struggle with worry?  Ask God what worries he would like you to give him in exchange for his peace. Read John 16:33, Isaiah 26:3
• Peace with your family:  Are you struggling to have peace in any of your relationships?   Do you struggle to offer Shalom to those who have wronged you? Do you fear asking for peace and forgiveness from those whom you have wronged?  Read Ephesians 4:32
• Peace within the Church:   Every family experiences conflict. Ask God to show you how you can be a peacemaker and promote unity within the family of God?  Read Colossians 3:15, Ephesians 4:2-3
• Peace within the world:  Consider how you can be an ambassador of Christ’s peace to those who are far from God.  Read Isaiah 52:7
• Peace with creation: Consider ways in which you can contribute to the wholeness and healing of creation.  Are there areas where you can steward the earth and its resources that will lead to Shalom.  Read Romans 8:20-21