No Violence!

December 31, 2020

No Violence!

I tried hard to get my heart in a good place for Christmas.

It’s not been easy.  There has been too much gloom, too much despair, too much oppression, and too much darkness.  There have been too many moments when the promise of love and joy and peace seemed to be false hope or at least extraordinarily naïve.

The accusations of wrong-doing and fraud, the acts of intolerance and violence, and the attitudes of indifference and lack of kindness have sometimes strangled the life out of my optimism in God’s grace, Jesus’ love, and the Spirit’s presence.

At the same time, the celebration of Jesus’ birth last week reminded me that the violence that we intentionally or unintentionally perpetuate will not always win the victory.

In Isaiah 9:5 we hear; “For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire.”  The King of Kings is coming!  The violence will come to an end!  A Savior will be born!  There will be no more fighting! 

The Son of God will deliver us and save us and rescue us.  The Son of God will come to release the shackles of anger and hatred as well as lift the burden of intolerance and violence.  The Son of God will come as a Prince of Peace.

In Isaiah 9:6 we hear God’s promise; “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

I need Jesus to be the Prince of Peace this Christmas.  There have been a few too many days when the gloom hangs heavy, when discouragement takes us down, when the weight of oppression is too heavy, when the darkness seems to be winning over the light, and when violence seems to be the new normal.  The disappointment, the discouragement, and the disillusionment can quickly steal away the joy, the peace, and the love of Christmas. 

It would be easier to give up or give in than reach out my hand to the Prince of Peace.  I need the child born in Bethlehem to be the Prince of Peace. 

I imagine you know someone who needs to know the hope of the Prince of Peace.  Take a moment during the next week to listen and care about their story of anger and hate or ­­­­­­­intolerance and violence.  Take a moment to pray for, and maybe even with, them for the Prince of Peace to restore their hope and faith and joy. 

When they experience the power of the Prince of Peace and the hope in knowing God’s Kingdom is near they will take delight in the Lord.

Take delight in the Lord!

Doug