Did you know that there is a wrong kind of peace? Whether it
be a peace ushered in by political oppression or the uneasy
peace that happens when two sides are just too tired to fight any longer, the
result us the same; hate and distrust fester. Consider the DailyMoravian Texts...
Psalm 106:40-48; 1 Samuel 3,4; Luke 24:13-27
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him.
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss
each other. Psalm 85:9,10
Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things,
strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish. 2 Peter 3:14
This morning I am mindful and mournful at the status of our
world. Some here in the US have misused the beautiful gift or free
speech in such a way as to rouse the uneasy tension in the Middle East, a
place that has lived under oppression and in violence for
the entirety of history. All politics aside, and from having watched
the film in question; I can say my heart breaks at its content.
Not because of any personal opinion about Islam or the
"prophet," but simply because this incident has become an
opportunity for those who hate the US to vomit hate in such a way
that Innocent champions for freedom are murdered.
I was listening to an Imam on the radio condemn the attack
saying that Islam teaches that the blood of the innocent should not be shed for
someone else's action. By that reasoning any offended party
would be just in killing the makers of the film. It was at this point in the
program that I shut it off and thought long and hard.
I am grateful for Jesus. He has taught me
not to return evil for evil, but to love my enemies and pray for those who
persecute me (Matt 5-7). I am free, if I choose to be, from the cycle of hate
and revenge that consumes the world. Jesus also taught me that I need not fear
this world for he has overcome it (John 16). It is in this place that His
Righteousness and His Peace "kiss" and I am free to live and love
standing for justice without doing evil myself.
My prayer for all of us this morning is that we would learn
to trade the uneasy peace and tainted self-righteousness of this world for the
eternally secure peace and freely given righteousness that Jesus
offers us.
Daily Prayer:
You are our salvation, righteousness and peace, O Christ.
While we await your coming, fulfill in us your holiness so others may see and
know that you are God. The time is now for faith and a holy fear that binds us
resolutely to you. O spotless Lamb, take away the sin in us as you have taken
away the sin of the world.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
