Living in the Peace of God

An epic event...

How do we even begin to imagine the next steps for Jesus and his young parents?

King Herod decrees that he will eliminate every young boy in the region— so this little family is cast off to Egypt as refugees!

It’s probably a good thing they have that Gold and Frankincense from the Magi!

Those were items that could probably sustain them for a while.

I have grown to really appreciate the “event” of Christmas— obviously, each year we gather with family— and with our church family, and we go through all the characters and situations.

We have Mary, and the angel, Joseph and his dreams, the Shepherd and Angels worship— the evil King Herod and maybe several other back stories—

While an “event” is a great thing— there is always the “process” or life after that event, right? A Wedding is a great example.

Two people stand up in front of family and friends, make their vows, and usually have a great party to celebrate— this event is followed by the marriage! That’s the day to day.

So here we are— Jesus has been born, we’ve studied and appreciated that he is truly the Missing Peace of our lives. Now what?

We need to live in that peace.

I love the verses that young Leo Miller read for us:

Romans 12:16–18 NIV

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Awesome words to live by. Everyday we need to live in the peace of Jesus.

For me— and that’s what I want to share with you today, this peace has four ingredients— these are four aspects of our deepest longings— our deepest needs as humans.

They are to be loved, to be known, to know that we are enough, and to know that we matter.

To be loved- This goes without saying— but it is a core part of our peace in this world, to know we are loved.

To be known: I read recently that one of the best things you can do for a little baby— even from the moment they are born, is to look them in the eye— and call them by name, letting them know that you see them, and that you “know” who they are...

To know that we are enough: There are so many ways that this world picks us apart— right? We all know our flaws too well— but we have a great need to be told and assured that we are enough— just the way we are.

To know that we matter: We have a need for purpose in this life— who am i?, what are my gifts and talents? why am I here?

Think with me on that frame work--

IN the event of Christmas, we are reminded of all four of these things— God so loved the world that he gave us his son… Jesus loves us and came as a man--died for us.

Jesus was our promised peace, from oh so long ago— Jesus is our perfect peace, knowing us, and fulfilling our deepest need, salvation from our sin. He is our patient peace, valuing us enough to wait on us to respond to his love. He values us so much that he’s persistent — even when we may turn away from him.

I love how we can actually see how God meets these characters with all of these ways:

For Mary, an angel comes to her and says “Mary, you are worthy— you are enough, and you matter”

For Joseph, God speaks in a dream to say “don’t fear, I see you, I know you, and I have a plan for you”

For the Shepherds and Wise Men— he assures them that he is there for them, he values them by revealing himself to them first! And they are given the great task to go and tell everyone they can about the Prince of Peace coming in Bethlehem.

Our world tempts us to try to fill our deepest needs— for Love, to be known, to be enough, and to matter— in all kinds of ways—More power, more money, more fame, more whatever? Work, our hobbies, — unfortunately that all leaves us empty. That’s why Jesus is indeed our “Missing Peace”.

All these situations play out in this wonderful “vertical” relationship between us and God. Through Jesus, we can have fellowship with God himself! That is truly a wonderful thought--

Have you fully accepted God’s gift of Love and Grace through Faith, that he knows and values you, and that you really matter? If you are unsure about that— I want to encourage you to just talk to Jesus. I would ask him the tough questions. Get this settled— (Vertical relationship)

Because that changes your life— for today— and for eternity!

If you do understand this— and you have accepted this wonderful gift. That may have been a wonderful event — that day when you first believed, or when you were baptized.

But are you living there? Everyday?

The Apostle Paul challenges us to “live at peace” with all people. This is where the rubber really hits the road. This world is FULL of conflict— there’s hardly any peace anywhere we look— in the world as a whole--- our government, education, medical and science community, family life, even in our own thoughts there is warfare going on.

Why is it like this today?

Well - here’s where it all comes together for me— If I find myself in conflict with someone— I need to take a deep breath and remember the four basic needs we all have.

To be loved, to be known, to be enough, and to matter. Am I missing one of those right in that moment— If I feel threatened, or disrespected, or misunderstood— did I just fall into an “auto-pilot” and react to that with fear and aggressiveness? Depending on the situation, my wife and I sometimes react to each other this way— but with practice, with God’s help— we can realize that even SHE isn’t the source of love, safety, or confidence for me— Jesus is that for me.

Every time I find myself in a tough situation in a relationship— it’s probably because one of us— or both of us-- is yearning for one or more of those aspects of our peace. And I need to go back to the source— the real source of Peace.

Here’s where this can get even more exciting. Are you a leader, a parent, a teacher, what influence have you been giving in this life?

Take a look at the people you are closely living with, or working with, whatever—

When you see they are upset— they’ve lost their peace—Don’t react-- Ask a couple key questions and I bet you can decipher that they are missing one of these four things—

You see, people we come in contact with EVERYDAY are perhaps experiencing a lack of peace—Blaise Pascal was so right on— when he described it as this “God shaped hole” in all of us. And when someone is really acting out-- that can probably be traced back to the lack of one of these four aspects of their life.

So when someone is a real pain— and God has given us the wisdom to see why— we can understand and maybe even help them realize the problem— and you can point them to the real source of Peace.

You see— you and I come to every relationship with a bucket of water— and a bucket of gasoline. And when a conflict arises— that fire of a problem between us— which bucket are you going to throw?

That’s the day to day grind— that’s the daily practice of Peace.

I want to end with another great scripture from Paul— I use it sometimes when I do marriage counseling:

Ephesians 4:2 NIV

2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:3 NIV

3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:4–5 NIV

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

Ephesians 4:6 NIV

6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

God truly is the ONE MISSING PEACE.

On behalf of all of us here at Walnut Creek Mennonite, May God Bless you this Christmas—Thanks so much for watching-- and may he give you strength and courage to live in His peace everyday.