ADVENT PEACE
ADVENT DEFINED
The Advent season is a four week period before Christmas that celebrates the anticipation and coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The origin of “advent” is from the Latin word adventus which simply translates “coming” or “arrival”. Not only is the Christian meaning for preparation and celebration of the coming of Jesus Christ, his birth at Christmas, but also to celebrate the new life when someone accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, and lastly, the anticipation of Jesus returning again.
From Crosswalk.com “The Beautiful and Meaningful Purpose of Advent”
peace noun
1: a state of tranquility or quiet: such as
a: freedom from civil disturbance
Peace and order were finally restored in the town.
b: a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom
2: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
I have been in perfect peace and contentment J. H. Newman
3: harmony in personal relations
The sisters are at peace with each other.
4 a: a state or period of mutual concord between governments
There was a peace of 50 years before war broke out again.
b: a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity
offered the possibility of a negotiated peace New York Times
5—used interjectionally to ask for silence or calm or as a greeting or farewell
THE WORD—Peace Himself
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:14
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
John 14:27
CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT PEACE
“Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy much peace. If you refuse to be hurried and pressed, if you stay your soul on God, nothing can keep you from that clearness of spirit which is life and peace. In that stillness you will know what His will is.”
― Amy Carmichael
“It is a great thing to enter the inner chamber, shut the doors, and meet the Father in secret. It is a greater thing to open the door again and go out to enjoy God’s presence—which nothing can disturb.”
—Andrew Murray
“Search your heart several times a day, and if you find something that is disturbing your peace, remember to take the proper steps to restore the calm.”
—Francis de Sales
“When we are careful to instantly let go of all needless worries and restless thoughts (that is, self-centered thoughts, rather than loving, outgoing ones), then we shall find ourselves on plateaus of peace even in the midst of the straight and narrow. We shall find ourselves walking in the freedom and innocent peace of the children of God, not lacking wholesome relationships either toward God or man.”
—Fenelon
A PRAYER FOR PEACE
Matt Maher gifts us with this melodious prayer about bringing peace into the places we find ourselves.
PEACE/SHALOM
Interested in watching a short video (3:49 minutes) about the biblical concept of peace? Click this link from the Bible Project
PEACEFUL PLAYLIST
Click here to listen to an advent playlist with over three hours of music from a variety of artists. Not on Spotify? You can sign up here.
LET PEACE RULE
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 NIV
Only as we drink down the kindness of the heart of Christ will we leave in our wake, everywhere we go, the aroma of heaven, and die one day having startled the world with glimpses of a divine kindness too great to be boxed in by what we deserve,
Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers
Lord, we are thirsty. Forgive us for guzzling the world’s fare and only sipping Christ’s kindness.
After all our worldly gulping we are still restless and dissatisfied.
By Your grace, our thirst reminds us that seeking fulfillment apart from You is sheer madness.
We are stressed and fretful but You have called us to peace—first with You and then with others. We acknowledge that we cannot give what we do not have.
Oh, that we might humble ourselves, forsake our fleshly striving and simply rest in the peace of Christ. We long to drink deeply from the One who is Peace until our thirst is slacked, our fleshly strivings cease, and the peace of Christ rules in our hearts.
Amen
