Peace On Earth
2003 Advent Devotional Collection
Saturday, December 20
Reading for Today: II Corinthians 1:2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. II Corinthians 1:2
Greetings of peace were a common part of my childhood church experiences. The rituals became more than recitation when a favorite teacher translated it as “May your day be calm and your thoughts happy.” In today’s world of busy households, troubled families and global conflict, peace can seem an abstract and unachievable concept. But God faithfully continues to send his greetings of peace. They leave the biggest impression on me when they come at unexpected times and in unexpected places. Sometimes I recognize the greeting during dinner, when the conversation turns nonsensical but the personality of each family members shines through. Or during a traffic jam when the sun behind the clouds takes my breath away, or through the uninhibited laugh that comes from the child behind me in the long line at the grocery store. And for that brief time, my day is calm and my thoughts are happy and I know that God is speaking to me.
Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, please open my eyes to all the small greetings of peace you
send each and every day. Help me to remember that each time I lend a helping
hand, offer a comforting word or encourage fellowship, I become an instrument
of your peace. Amen.
Carol S.
Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
(217) 428-4336