Bottled peace

Open the city gates and let the faithful nation enter,
the nation whose people do what is right.
You, Lord, give perfect peace
to those who keep their purpose firm
and put their trust in you.
Trust in the Lord for ever;
he will always protect us. (verses 2-4)

Read Isaiah 26:1-6

If you were asked to paint a picture of peace, how would you do it? The peace that comes after war, the peace after angry words are forgiven, the peace that falls over a household at the end of a day, the peace of a child asleep? The reality with any of these images is that they don’t last, as history and your life’s experiences will have proved over and over again.

Today’s Bible reading however, challenges this human reality, for it talks about ‘perfect peace’. Can there be such a thing? If there is, let’s bottle it, for it would surely be a big seller. The perfect peace described by the Bible is the peace of those who look to Jesus and put their trust in him.

The good news of Christmas is that there is a perfect peace and that it can be yours as you put your trust in the baby Jesus, who comes as your Saviour. That’s the peace that’s worth bottling, but not to keep to yourself. Share it around.

Fill me, Lord Jesus, with your peace, so that it overflows in my life and I share it – not just today but every day. Amen.

by Anne Maczkowiack, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

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