Peace and Goodwill? Psalm 55, Proverbs 18

May the mumbling commence!

To fill God’s Christmas stocking with what He desires means that we have to be flexible and sensitive to the change that God desires in our lives.  Are we God’s friend?  Are we God’s child?  Well, we need to respond to God in kind, or we will become a part of the problem and dysfunction.  Read from Psalm fifty-five:

For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;

Then I could bear it.

Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me;

Then I could hide from him. 

But it was you, a man my equal,

My companion and my acquaintance. 

We took sweet counsel together,

And walked to the house of God in the throng. (Verses 12-14)

Do we wonder when people are hurt by the church – the body of Christ?  We should not wonder.  It happens all the time, because the church is chock full of humans with all together human frailty and sin.  It is because you and I fear change more than we fear God.  Read later from Psalm fifty-five:

Because they do not change,

Therefore they do not fear God. (Verse 19b)

It is truly no wonder that we hurt each other so.  For this reason, we desperately need reconciliation with one another – peace and good will towards all people.  Jesus has shown us the Way.  It is difficult and filled with strife.  It means deep change.  It means finding new ways to deal with conflict and with our emotions.

I leave us with a couple different wisdoms from Proverbs chapter eighteen:

A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city,

And contentions are like the bars of a castle. (Verse 19)

Reconciliation is hard work – the work of the Holy Spirit of God.  Damaged and burned bridges are reconstructed through the greatest Bridge of all – Jesus the Christ.  Again from Proverbs chapter eighteen:

A man who has friends must himself be friendly,

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Verse 24)

Do you want friends?  Do you want to retain those relationships?  Then you must be friendly.  Do you want neighbors that you can count on?  Then you must be a neighbor to be counted on.

Relationship is hard work, but it is the hard work of our God of love and peace and goodwill.  Give God this gift.  Seek out God in relationship.  Seek out the people most close to you and sustain rightful relationship.  Welcome those on the fringes of your life into relationship.  And God will smile.  The Christ child will coo.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out