Devotion for the week...
It's the second week of Advent! Are you finished decorating for Christmas? Ours is done, and now I'm starting to think about making some cookies to have on hand. We don't usually have much company in over the holidays, but I still like to have lots of cookies ready just in case (mostly because I like to eat them, too 😆).
Last week, for the first week of Advent, we considered the hope Jesus brings. This week we're looking at the peace He brings. As we see everywhere at this time of year, the prophet Isaiah wrote:
For a child is born to us,a son is given to us.The government will rest on his shoulders.And he will be called:Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).
Jesus is the Prince of Peace, but you may have noticed that the world is still full of trouble. Thankfully, even the trouble isn't a surprise to God. In fact, Jesus told His disciples to expect it! "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
The other day I was listening to my Christmas playlist, which includes Casting Crown's version of I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, and it felt perfectly made for this week's devotion. The poem that eventually became the classic carol was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in the midst of the Civil War. It captures the disconnect between Christmas' message of peace on earth and the reality Longfellow saw around him. In the second last verse of the poem, Longfellow wrote,
"And in despair I bowed my head:'There is no peace on earth,' I said,'For hate is strong, and mocks the songOf peace on earth, good will to men.'"
Those words still ring true today, don't they? There doesn't seem to be much peace to be found and hate is still plenty strong.
Ah, but Longfellow didn't stay in despair! The last verse says,
"Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;The Wrong shall fail,The Right prevail,With peace on earth, good-will to men.'"
That, right there, is the source of our peace. Even though all around us is madness, God is not dead, nor doth He sleep. We can have peace, no matter what trouble and sorrow we face, because we know that He is in control and that He "causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God." (Romans 8:28).