Advent Week Two: Peace ~ Day Seven

1Thessalonians 5:12-19
Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.

Too often, people are looking at those who claim to be Christians and don’t see anything very appealing. People in the church look about the same as people outside the church. There is gossip, back biting, strife and unease. Why should anyone come to church if they see nothing greater then what they already have?

If we, the people of Christ, would genuinely have peace within the church and love for each other as created beings of Christ, I suspect many more of our churches would be full. People are searching desperately for peace and acceptance.

You are a representative of Christ and His Church every day, to everyone you meet. While that might sound daunting, it need not be. If you seek to live as Christ directed, it will not matter if someone is watching you or not. People will know there is something different about you. When you have peace while others are in chaos, they can’t help but notice. When you have love when everyone else has hate, people will see that too. When you have rest while others have fear, God will bring people to you that want that same rest, peace and love. Will you be ready to share it? Will you advance the kingdom of God and bring His peace wherever you go?

Challenge: This week try to show peace in chaotic situations. When a co-worker or friend talks about the unrest that they feel for the future, tell them that you aren’t worried because God has given you peace. Don’t feed into the fear of the unknown, but instead tell of the known—that God is in control, and you are willing to let him handle the future.