And he will be
our peace (Micah 5:5).
This verse tells of
a promised ruler coming from the town of Bethlehem, and has long been seen by
the church as a prophecy of Jesus’ birthplace. He will be our
peace…, Prince of Peace… (Isaiah
9:6), Peace I leave with
you (John 14:27).
But on one very serious
occasion in preparing his disciples for dark days ahead, Jesus had this to say:
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did
not come to bring peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34).
Then he goes back to
quote from Micah 7:6 – For I have come to turn “a man against his
father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her
mother-in-law – a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household” (Matthew 10:35,36).
Could Jesus be
telling us we have an inaccurate picture of God’s peace? Are we expecting lambs
frolicking among the wildflowers in a sun-drenched pasture? Hugs and kisses,
decreasing unemployment, and the Dow above 14,000? Passing around a bottle of
Coke and singing in perfect harmony?
Maybe Jesus is
saying that if we had all that we wouldn’t need his peace.
What does peace look
like to you? Do you think that’s what peace looks like to God?
TODAY’S MEDITATION
Do you find yourself
experiencing conflict? Waiting out the storm? How does that put you in a unique
position to experience God’s peace?
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