Peace Be With You.

Today, at work, it was my turn for staff meeting devotion. Being the second week of advent I chose to read Isaiah 11:6-9 (NIV). Below is my full devotion. I hope it brings peace to you this week.

The Peaceable Kingdom, Isaiah 11:6-9 (NIV)
⁶ The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. ⁷ The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. ⁸ The infant will play near the cobra’s den, the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. ⁹ They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

Thoughts

The Peaceable Kingdom is a beautiful and vivid image of what we have to look forward too. Growing up, my parents had a framed painting of the Peaceable Kingdom above our fireplace.
As a little girl it was something I could see and understand. Seeing how these animals, who normally would follow the natural food chain, could sit, eat, and rest with each other in complete peace was almost crazy to imagine. But it was a perfect example of what was to come. That everyone, not just the animals, but all creatures would be able to live together in peace and love.

As we enter the 2^nd week of Advent we are inching closer and closer to celebrating Jesus’ birth. But, let’s remember, it goes past Christmas Day. It’s not just these few weeks of journeying through Advent. We celebrate Advent our whole lives.... constantly looking forward to what God has promised us. We all long for peace. Some days in our world it doesn’t seem possible. Just remember God’s promise of peace and that his Kingdom is coming.

Prayer

God, thank you for your promise. We look forward to your Kingdom with longing and excitement. Each day we have hurtles and moments that break us and bring us down. Help remind us that it is the journey that we all take. And that you are beside us as we step through each battle field. Give us wisdom and peace that we may love one another as you would have us do in your Kingdom.

We pray in Christ’s name, Amen.

Painting: The Peaceable Kingdom, Edward Hicks (1780-1849)