The Coming of Grace: Peace
Welcome to our Advent series The Coming of Grace. During this season we will share with you the sights and sounds of the Advent season. Feel free to enjoy the pictures, music, words and thoughts below as you desire. This week we celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent, Peace.
Reflect on this image...
What comes to mind?
Scripture: Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13
1Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin. Selah
8Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. 9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. 10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.
12 The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.
Devotional by Pastor Alicia Dixon-Garrard
Peace at times seems elusive. Our atmosphere can be noisy when we want quiet. Conflict arises when we want collaboration. It feels like there’s a missing piece or step on the road to wholeness and tranquility.
Yet, peace is a promise from God in Psalm 85.
Peace is the advent, or coming, of salvation, and salvation is found in Jesus.
As the hymn for this week’s devotional states, the peace that comes in Jesus exceeds anything the world can offer and is the source of true happiness.
Because of Jesus, those things which undermine peace are overcome.
Because in Him we are forgiven peace exists between humanity and God.
Because in Him we learn how to be human, enmity among us can end.
Because in Him we find a love that never fails or abandons or abuses, we can be whole.
Furthermore, the great beauty of this peace is that it is all encompassing. Verses ten and eleven say, “Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.”
Faithfulness is looking up from the ground, righteousness is looking down from the sky, and the two meet in the middle. That means that everything from the top down and bottom up will be touched. Also, righteousness and peace kiss each other, and the sound and impact of the kiss reverberates throughout all creation.
The peace of God brought by Jesus and sustained by the Holy Spirit is available to us.