There are certain people that impact our lives.
He was eighty-something.
He came in peace
to our church
to help us find healing
in a time of chaos and profound hurt.
Not all of us thought we were hurt.
We were.
Hurt is often hidden . . .
we tend not to deal with pain . . .
denying the presence and power it has over us.
He taught us to be honest,
to face pain,
and to receive
the presence
and power
of peace.
We did.
And . . . we began to experience peace . . . and become healthy.
We are unhealthy until we face pain and receive peace.Christ, God with us, came to give humanity peace . . . shalom . . . well-being. Healing, at the deepest level, occurs through receiving the life-giving peace of Christ.
Christ came in active peace:
BUT JESUS went to the Mount of Olives.
Early in the morning (at dawn), He came back into the temple [court], and the people came to Him in crowds. He sat down and was teaching them,(John 8:1-2, Amplified)
Think about how this story reveals peace:
John 7 closes with the religious leaders telling the people not to believe. In response, the people went home.
Chapter 8 opens up with a dramatic scene . . . Jesus goes to Mount of Olives . . . and then early in the morning returns to the temple.
Jesus did not allow rejection to deter Him from bringing life-giving peace to humanity.
Jesus came back and the people came to Him.
No justification.
No arguments.
No strife.
He came
with life-giving peace.
He sat down.
He taught.
He sat down and taught them.
Think about it . . . God who created this world . . . comes to us . . . takes time to connect . . . and teach . . . without force . . . but with peace.
Jesus lived out the message of peace.
We are called to live in and through active peace.
Stop.
Face the pain that comes from this world.
Receive the peace of Christ.
Actively live out peace today.
Learning with you to live out the message of peace,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)
