Light a Candle for Peace

There is a famous sermon illustration of peace. It is a picture of a bird rested in the midst of a storm. The bird is likened to the believer, whose hope is in God, and the storm to life’s circumstances. The believer is at peace because her expectation is in God. The believer has peace no matter the circumstances. This is the peace that surpasses all understanding. (Philippians 4:7). But, there is another definition of peace. It is the peace that we acknowledge Jesus Christ has brought and will manifest eternally at His second appearance on the second Sunday of Advent. This peace speaks to an absence of conflict and the presence of a divine unity that restores things to alignment with God’s original intention for all things. 

In the beginning we were created in His image. (Genesis 1:26).  We walked in the cool of the day with Him and experienced uninhibited fellowship. But, we fell out of fellowship on account of our disobedience. And every human born after that would be born in need of a savior-in need of someone who could both end the hostility and repair the breach. (Romans 3:23 - 26). We were all born in need of Jesus, who endured all the hostility our sin earned on the cross and gave us the chance to receive His righteousness instead. (2 Corinthians 5:21). And for all those who believed on Him, He gave the right to become children of God - beloved, no longer at odds, justified (made right with Him eternally). (John 1: 12 - 13). He brought peace. And we who have received this peace are now its ambassadors. (2 Corinthians 5:19 - 21).

There is nothing like eating and drinking in the company of others-especially dearly loved others. But, on account of our own brokenness and the fallen nature of the world, we experience difficulties in our relationships. We experience conflict that threatens and or destroys the unity that God intended between all people. This Advent consider structuring your eating around the intentional cultivation of community. Choose one or all of the following tips to help make your table a place for making God known:

1. Prepare your meals together. Look for simple recipes that the entire family can complete. A good strategy for a larger family is to plan a multi-course meal and assign each member of the family to complete a particular portion. Do the preparation and waiting in the same house. This is great to do even where there is no discernible conflict because the peace Jesus grants us is not only about removing conflict, but about providing what is good and preferable. Sow seeds of unity in your family.
2. Use the simple gift of food as a means of showing your intention to reconcile. “Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body”. (Proverbs 16:24, NLT). But, a lovingly made dessert requires less translation. Set aside some time to prepare a baked good and offer it as a sign of your heart’s openness to restore peace. As you prepare your gift, pray for the heart of the one who will receive it, that they will be desirous of peace as well. Be sure that you can leave it with an open hand, i.e. without expecting or demanding a certain response. We pray that the person is open to reconciliation, but if not your sincere heart posture will still be honored by God.
3. Prepare and use conversation starters to help get the conversation going where there is a history of tension. Come up with light prompts that people around the table will feel comfortable discussing whole group. If you want to go deeper, try having people pair up at the table and discuss them in a smaller group setting. At the close of the pair sharing you can invite each person to share one insight or point of appreciation based on her discussion.

Learn more about the biblical definition of peace here: 

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Jeanette recommends this devotional to center our hearts and incorporate movement for wellness into our lives this Advent.
Get yours here:
​Walking to the Manger: Four Weeks of Daily Devotions for Advent (2019) By Butch Odom

Happy temple building!

Take care. Bless many.