The Pathway to Peace
Advent 2022 week 4
Prayer from Anglican Book of Common Prayer
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us. As we are sorely hindered by our sins from running the race that is set before us, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever, Amen.
Day one
Read Luke 2
Reflect
Peace between people is impossible until we have peace with God. The Incarnation, Emmanuel, God with us paves our only path to peace with God and with each other. The Law could not reconcile us; the Law could only illustrate how hopelessly broken we are. In Jesus, we are reconciled to the Father and in that relationship we dwell in peace.
Simeon and Anna both saw the infant Jesus and knew that the promise of the Messiah was with them. Simeon held the baby and prayed, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, You now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles , and the glory of your people Israel.” The Son was given, the child born, and He would be our peace. We can live in peace with others because God has made a way of peace for us. The Prince of Peace rules our hearts and minds and souls in love.
Peace comes in confidence and assurance in things unseen; this world is not our home. By faith we join with those who have gone before us, and they are now the witnesses to our lives as we pursue peace among people. We look to Jesus as we purposefully disentangle from the sin that persists as long as we live. We look beyond this life, as Simeon did, to an unshakeable kingdom. Our faith is not in people or governments or influence; our faith is in Jesus. He is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what was until then, unseen. The promise of salvation is fulfilled in the Incarnation. Our peace rests in grace upon grace.
We can seek peace and pursue it because we dwell in perfect peace.
Pray
- Seek the Lord who saves.
- Rejoice that God’s promise is fulfilled.
- Let peace be the cry of your heart.
Day two
Read Hebrews 11:1–12:2
Reflect
- How does the great cloud of witnesses connect you to Jesus today?
- What picture does this pericope (passage of scripture) paint for you of the perfect reality of God’s faithfulness?
Pray
- Seek Jesus who perfects your faith.
- Rejoice that God’s faithfulness offers peace.
- Let peace be the desire of your spirit.
Day three
Read Ephesians 2
Reflect
- How are love and peace connected in Jesus’s first coming?
- What picture does this pericope paint for you of the unity we have in Jesus?
Pray
- Seek the Lord who is your peace.
- Rejoice that you are a citizen of heaven with all the saints who have gone before.
- Let peace be the focus of your intercession.
