“I will make peace your governor and well-being your ruler. The sounds of violence never be heard in your land again. Ruin and destruction won’t happen within your borders. Instead, your walls will deserve the name Salvation—for peace will permeate the City. And your gates will be named Praise, not Protection—for my presence will be fully there all the time, on both sides of the gates” (pp Isa. 60:17-18; Rev.21:25)
Lord Jesus, I’m up earlier than normal today—simmering, lamenting, sighing, somewhat angry, definitely sad—weary of madness and meanness in ALL its forms. Rifle shots and drone attacks pillage too many lives. Contemptuous words torch hearts and burn relationships to the ground like a wildfire (James 3:5-6).
Not just on social media between “political non-parties”—but in grocery stores as frustrated mom’s publicly humiliate and shame kids, and in the out-of-sight places of sexual abuse, spousal hate, and bullying in all its forms.
How long, O Lord, until you return and put an end to ALL violence. When will the dawn break on the Day of no more pointing of guns or even pointing of fingers? Jesus, when will “Peace be our governor” and “Well-being our ruler”? I know the answer is in the new heaven and new earth, but can you—will you please hurry up, Lord?
We crave it but can hardly imagine only using our words to praise you and encourage each other. Oh, for the Day we will never again weaponize our disappointments—or even think evil or ill of anyone. We won’t “play nice”; we will be 100% holy—wholly like you, Jesus. Until then show us how to live by the Gospel not by the sword—by the way of your cross not by the gracelessness in our hearts. So Very Amen.
