12-12-23

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
December 12, 2023
In Sunday’s sermon, I talked about the language of Isaiah the Prophet, specifically the Prince of Peace. In the original Hebrew, the word for Prince could also be translated as ruler, magistrate, or captain. It describes a position of authority, holding sway over a group or geographic area. What if the Prince of Peace seeks to have whatever area under his authority be a place of peace? If that’s the case, and we claim to be residents of God’s Realm in the here and now, then wouldn’t it be reasonable to assume that peace would be both the reality of that realm and the way of existing within that realm? It sort of makes me wonder how often people choose to dance around the edges of God’s Kin(g)dom, stepping in when it is beneficial and stepping out when it demands something. I wonder how my life might look different if I fully resided in that Realm of Peace under the leadership of the Prince of Peace. Maybe the journey of faith is finding what true citizenship might look like in that Peaceable Realm.

I know my citizenship in your Kin(g)dom, Merciful God, has been given full approval by you, yet I too often dabble in exploring those kingdoms that do not seek to represent you and your values. As you are patient, I seek to build my full-time residence in the Kin(g)dom of Heaven that has come to earth in a child whose birth we will soon celebrate. Amen.