Promises - Pt. 4

 

Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace. (Micah 5:1-5 ESV).

 

As I was writing today’s devotional Mary said, “I’m ready to go to the mountains.” I ignored the declaration and she followed with, “Did you hear me?” I knew I was trapped and had to give an answer. So, I simply answered, “Yes, I heard you.” The conversation was not at an end. She pressed further, “Well?” I then had to say something further. I looked quickly at the ten day forecast for Gatlinburg, Tennessee and said, “Well, they are forecasting snow twice this week. Do you really want to go to the cold?” Her answer was not unanticipated: “Yes. I could be ready to leave in an hour or so.” Then I had to pull out the trump card. I said, “OK. If you can get Kyle, David, and Aaron to agree to our traveling, it’s OK with me.” You see, I know that will not happen until we’ve been vaccinated, and that hasn’t happened yet. She said, “That’s not fair.” I answered, “I know. But I really don’t want a funeral if I can help it.” I’ve received the silent treatment for the last thirty minutes as a result.

 

Many of us have seen or experienced deep pain and losses over the past year: families at gravesides, broken promises, cancer, violence in the streets, Covid-19, … where is the promised peace of God? Long ago sin, brokenness, and death entered our world through the work of the devil and Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God. But God responded by sending Jesus, the Prince of Peace. “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” Through the Prince of Peace God is destroying the work of the devil in this world and in our lives. He is restoring creation and redeeming and renewing his children.

 

The peace of God rests in the kingdom of God. As a child of God, you can experience peace in this broken world because Jesus has won the victory and made you secure in body and soul, in life and in death. And you can serve the Savior by living in ways that bring healing, wholeness, and peace where there is brokenness. That is a wonderful, unbreakable promise of God!