Daily Readings & Thought for March 27th. “THE THINGS THAT MAKE FOR PEACE”
Our world likes to talk about peace. We cannot recall a time when there has not been talks about the need for peace in some situation, often many situations. At the end of world wars “peace” is declared! But is “peace” simply a cessation of hostilities?
No it is not, well not from the divine perspective. We read in today’s 19th chapter of Luke how Jesus came down the mount of Olives (v.37) and “the whole multitude of his disciples (not just the 12) began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! …. And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”
The challenge for each one of us is to know “the things that make for peace” – for real peace. We recall what we read in ch. 2 of the song of the heavenly host to the shepherds, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is well pleased”
[v.14] The old A V translation does not render the Gk adequately when it has “ …on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”
If the Jews had accepted Jesus as their Messiah there would have been real peace, for Jesus would have taken his God given power to humble the nations and reign. That is still to happen, that is the hope of the world, although so few know it, but as this world gets more desperate about its’ future how vital it will be to have that hope.
Our thoughts went back to the first chapter in Luke and the inspired prophecy of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist that “you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways … to guide our feet into the way of peace.” [v.79] Those who responded from the heart to John’s message became followers of Jesus and were taught “the way of peace”. The followers of Jesus taught that ”way of peace” after he ascended to heaven.
Ponder what Paul wrote to the Philippians, “…. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” [4 v.6,7] Only the Scriptures show us “the way of peace” and “the things that make for peace.”
