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First Week of Advent - Tuesday
November 30, 2004
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
And the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
With a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
Together their young shall rest.
The lion shall eat hay like the ox;
None shall come to harm in my Kingdom.
Isaiah 11: 6-9
Peace to the Earth
In a world torn apart by conflict, we live by the promise that the reign of God will someday bring peace to the earth.
God intended from the beginning that his children be one family and the earth be a peaceful place. He intended that his people know him, and recognize his voice, and listen to his word, and be guided by his will. He intended that they take care of one another, and share the goods of the earth, and treat one another fairly, and live in peace.
But from the beginning sin crept into the hearts of men. Humans ceased living together as one family. Rivalries arose among men. Everyone began to make distinctions between friends and foes. Competition took the place of concern for others. Men began living in fear of one another. Everyone drew up defenses, and remained constantly trained and ready for war. The Prince of Darkness ruled over the earth.
But those of us who love peace have not given up hope in the coming of the Prince of Peace. We believe that Jesus Christ will come to restore peace to the earth. We believe that in laying down his life in the face of evil and rising from the dead, he overcame the forces of darkness once and for all. We await his second coming with hearts filled with hope. He will gather up his loved ones, those who walk faithfully in the way of peace, and lead them triumphantly into the kingdom of heaven. May we be among their number.
Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, may your kingdom come. Make haste to come to your people, downtrodden and in misery in a world that knows no peace. Enlighten us with your word and empower us with your Spirit, that we may live together as one family in a new creation of eternal peace.
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