In days to come nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war anymore. Isaiah 2:2,4

Pursue peace with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

Isaiah gives us a vision of a future world, one of peace, where wars are no more. He says that swords will be made into plowshares, and spears into pruning hooks. Weapons of war into useful farm implements. In a world that has numerous wars going on at the moment, this sounds like an impossible dream.

Peace is more than the absence of war. Often we may not feel at all peaceful as we worry and argue with others. What can be done? We don’t just magically get peace, as the writer of Hebrews says, we need to pursue peace. Pursue it like we pursue other things in our lives. Not only pursue peace, but pursue it with everyone. Those we like and those we don’t like. We need to make amends with those we have wronged, and with those who have wronged us.

Harmony and peace are not just something to hope for, but something that needs some effort on our part. This can be difficult, but we are assured that Jesus, the Prince of Peace is present with us and will fulfill all His promises. We don’t have to do this all on our own. In John 4:27 Jesus says: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” This is true peace, beyond what we humans can accomplish on our own.

Peace be with you.

Forgiving God and Lord, gird us to seek peace daily with our neighbors and those whom we see as foes—for whatever reason. We pray that the whole world might sit down together and share its bread and its wine. Help us to offer to others the olive branch in our hands, and the love for you in our hearts. Amen.

Chris Gabel

Ministries
Teaching Mission Party