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Reflections: Daily Devotions in Disability Ministry

Peace

July 9, 2010

Isaiah 2:4
He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (NIV)

David was watching the evening news on TV with his Dad. “When is the war going to be over?” he asked his Dad. “We pray for peace every Sunday in church. When will the war be over, so all the soldiers can come home?”

“That’s a good question,” said his Dad. “I wish I knew the answer. I only know we need to keep praying. This is a really hard time for many people. We need to keep praying for the soldiers and everyone whose lives are touched by the war. God will answer our prayers. He always does.”

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that a war will end when all we hear is bad news night after night, month after month, year after year. But the truth is that wars do come to an end eventually. It may take a long time, but they do come to an end. The other truth is that since people are sinners, wars sometimes start up again. There will always be trouble between countries somewhere in our sinful world.

And yet, we have the promise from God that we read just now. God promises that one day there will be a time of peace for the whole world. There will be a time when no one will be fighting anymore. No one will need to train as soldiers. People will turn their swords and spears into garden tools. Imagine that! No more guns or weapons! No more soldiers going off to war! What a happy day that will be!

This time of peace will begin when Jesus returns to earth on the Last Day. It is a wonderful time that we can look forward to. While we wait, we keep praying for peace and trusting Jesus who loves us and died on the cross for us.

Lord Jesus, we pray for peace in our world and an end to the wars we hear about on the news. Please help our country to always work for peace. In the meantime, we look forward with joy to the time when You return to earth and bring peace to the whole world. In Your name we pray. Amen.

Jeanne M. Dicke, Ministry Consultant – MN & WI
http://bethesdalutherancommunities.org/resources/spiritualResources/pmc.asp

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