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What could be more intimate than the fellowship shared by the man and the
woman? Peace, intimate fellowship, righteousness, justice, these interrelated
qualities characterize Gods perfect paradise. They reveal Gods intentions for
how we are to live. In a nutshell, were to live in peace, which means our mission
is to share the peace by having intimate communion and fellowship wit h other. So
our theme is very relevant today to meditate Mission as Sharing Christs Peace
let us go through the readings of the old and new testament s.
1. God helps us to change the tool of destruction as the tool of peace (Mic.
4:1-7)
The prophet Micah lived in the 8th century BC, and preached to the people of Israel.
Jewish people lived in a time of war, and Assyrian attack was imminent. The center of
civic and religious life, Jerusalem, was about to fall. In the midst of this terror, Micah
casts a vision that is almost fanciful. He describes two things the first is a vision of the
peoples of all nations coming to the mountain of the Lord. All people will stream to
Jerusalem, and God will be the final arbiter of all contention. No Assyrian or other threat
will win. No human force or king or warfare will overcome what God has in mind for all
nations. The second thing Micah describes is how implements of war swords and spears
will be fashioned into plows and pruning hooks. The very thing that was a tool of
destruction will become a tool of growth and peace. All of this seems impossible and
Unrealistic. this will never happen its not practical and yet, this is the vision and the
place to which God calls us. By having this hopeful future vision, our present changes.
Have you noticed that when you have a vision of the future that is negative, it affects how
you feel and act in the present? The vision of Gods future is what gives us ultimate hope,
and empowers us to take the things that we have been 4 using to hurt each other and
transform them into implements of growth and peace.
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If you have used or are using something in your life as a tool of destruction, consider how
it might be transformed into a tool of creating life and peace. God the giver of life
expects peace from people and nations and transform the tool of destruction as the
growing edge for the peace. This is the time to take decision to change our
destructive tools and elements that may be our character, our attitude, our
impatience, broken relations etc.
2. Jesus Greet us with Peace in our trouble (Lk. 24:36-49)
The resurrected Lord declared peace to the fearful people. Jesus greeting was the
common Jewish greeting Shalom!"Peace be with you." The disciples had forsaken Jesus.
Peter had denied Him. They had slept while Jesus prayed. They had fled when Jesus was
arrested. What would He say to them now when He sees them again? Does He accuse
them? Does He condemn them? No, He says, Peace. He has forgiven them. He knows
our weaknesses. He comes with words of love to the disciples.
How often aren't our hearts like those of the disciples: anxious about something,
wondering what will happen in the future. We know God's promises and yet, we doubt.
We wonder if God can really forgive our sin. We wonder how God can work in this or
that situation for our best. Locked tight, deep in our hearts where no one can see, our
thoughts are in turmoil. We are not at peace. We don't know what to do, and simply pray:
Lord, help me. And then Jesus appears. As we meditate on His word and his promises,
He simply appears in our heart with his message: "Peace be with you, brother. Peace be
with you, sister.
In the Scriptures, he stands holding out his hands and his feet - showing the marks of his
crucifixion - that we might be reassured that our sins are forgiven; that we are at peace
with God. And not only does he stand before us, but he also stands with us as we share
the message of salvation with our family, friends and neighbors, who are caught in
anxiety and sin.
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peace with our neighbors and our family members. Sharing Gods peace is a daily
opportunity.
The peace that Jesus gave his disciples was not just meant to be kept locked up in their
hearts for themselves. Jesus intended it to be shared with the world so that all who would
believe in Him would have eternal life. And this duty was not only given to the disciples,
but to each of us as well. When the Lord called you to faith, he called you to be his
representatives before the world. He came to bring us peace - the forgiveness of sins - but
he never intended for us to keep this peace to ourselves. He wants you to share it with
others that they too might repent of their sin and believe in Jesus for forgiveness.
Conclusion
As I conclude, lets us ask a meaningful question to yourself, Whats Sharing Christs
Peace all about? Its a very simple way to remember the big story of our salvation and
our big mission as the church in the world. It goes like this: God sent Jesus to restore
peace to our broken lives and our broken world. We, as followers of Jesus, are now called
to share Christs peace with everyone, everywhere, every day until Christ returns or calls
us home.
Let us ask Gods help to change the tool of destruction as the tool of peace
Let us understand that there is a Jesus who greets us with Peace in our trouble
Let us take the notion of sharing the peace as our mission
God help all of us to be his representative in this earth by sharing the peace of
Christ with everyone. Amen