[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Friday December 8, 2006

[Barry Ludwig]

Daily Devotion Friday December 8, 2006

The Daily Devotions for the next three weeks pastor Ludwig will focus on
each word of the phrase, Jesus Is Coming. This week we look at the
attributes of "Jesus."

 

Matthew 5: 9

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children  of God."

 

Jesus defines Peace

John Ortberg writes that in the minds of most Americans, "happiness is just
one purchase away."  The quest for happiness in our culture I believe,
reflects an inner longing and outer search for peace. Christ taught us that
true peace cannot be purchased nor can it be gained through shear power and
might. Last Spring I went to the Holy Land with our local bishop and a small
group of clergy and lay leaders in our synod. We went to visit our spiritual
family (Palestinian Lutherans) and affirm our solidarity with them

The Holy Land is fast becoming a land of apartheid where Palestinians
(Christian and Muslim) are being "herded" into cantons and their land stolen
by immigrant Israeli settlers.  In addition, to obtain a military style
"peace," Israel is building an illegal physical wall or barrier between
Palestinians and Israelis that will destroy any chance of true peace.

At the gate in the wall the leads from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, flanked by
Israeli soldiers (always armed and ready) there is a large sign the says
"Peace" in English, Hebrew and Arabic.  By any standard or measure, this
sign is an insult and a sham. Peace will never come through these means.
What was not a sham was the life and witness of Lutheran Pastor Mitri Raheb,
the pastor at Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem who leads God's people
in a peace-making role.

 

Jesus teaches us that true peace begins with peacemakers. Those, who like
himself, are willing to enter into the reality of the enemy (sinful humanity
- us) and take the risk of "knowing" us fully. That is what Christmas is
about.  Peace is defined by the presence of Christ not the absence of strife
and misunderstanding. Where Christ is present and we seek to follow him,
peace will be manifest in our actions and attitudes.

 

Salaam, Shalom, Peace

 

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