Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
“Peace on Earth, good will toward men”
It’s scrawled across Christmas cards, billboard and manger scene’s across the earth. I believe it is the one thing most of the world would agree upon that we want… and yet, history proves it and the bible foretells, that until Jesus comes, we won’t see it. But is there any hope for it in our own lives? Feudin’ and Fussin’ go on everywhere, even in the lives of the godliest people who strive to live for Christ. Holidays bring out the worst in most families and Christmas is at the top of the list for family dissension, mainly because we heap too much expectation of what Christmas should look like on ourselves and then it always falls short.
Peace on earth…
I’d settle for peace in Shari. I wish the voices inside my head would stop and the “to do list” would be minimalized to just one thing. Peace. And it would be checked off the list having arrived in my heart and mind. But it has not, so it is still on the list, along with one thousand others “things” of varied importance and not in any particular order, which too brings me stress and causes me not to have peace.
And so as I did the artwork for this blog, before the blog was even written, I thought it summed up why peace has evaded me. Because my want list isn’t in order. It’s more like a list a child would make to Santa. Not that I’m asking for material things, but it’s the manner in which I approach the throne.
The lyrics of “O Holy Night” caused me to realize that I had taken my “childlike faith” a little too far. God’s not about the list, He’s about the longing, and how does what I long for serve the Kingdom.
The second verse of that song says “The thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. O fall on your knees…”
The thrill of hope.
We find true hope in Christ Jesus alone, but it doesn’t stop the wish list from accumulating and our hope from getting lost amidst the list of unfulfilled desires.
Perhaps I’m being too vague. I just happened to think that sometimes I treat God like Santa, and when what I want doesn’t happen, it puts a dash of disappointment in my life and clouds the thrill of hope that is found in knowing the Creator of the universe and I grow weary. I’m not thankful for what I have, I’m frustrated for what I have not. I need to fall on my knees before God with my list in order.
My grown up Christmas list.
Mark off the “stuff.” Just be grateful for the abundance already in my life.
Ask God to use me and excuse me when I fail him on number one.
Search for people and issues that God has inscribed on my heart, pray with purpose and for opportunities to be used in such a way that peace comes in the form of rest from a servant’s job well done.