Holston Daily Devotional December 6, 2020

Focus Scripture

II Peter 3:8-15

“But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him

Devotion

Peace

If you are reading this, brothers and sisters, then we have made it to Advent 2020, and in fact we are in the second Sunday of the New Year (Christian year, that is). I am thinking about years past and how I missed saying “Happy New Year!” last week to a face-to-face congregation. A lot has changed in this year, and I cannot help to draw parallels with our life this year from the reading from II Peter. Still, I wait with bated breath as Peter challenges us “for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.”

Peace, I have heard is “a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups.” Interesting, huh? We have in 2020 come through a time of war, and although we are not quite through it yet … I hope we can pause for a moment and reflect on the Peace that this second Sunday of Advent 2020 promises us.

Any of the eleven congregations I have served can tell you that this season is the end all and be all for me, and shouting “Happy New Year!” the first Sunday in Advent has long been my battle cry, even though the only thing I have ever hoped for is to achieve that Peace that Peter promises us and that this second Sunday claims as paramount. I know it is difficult to believe, but I remember the Vietnam War. As a small child growing up in rural Southwest Virginia, I remember watching news reports with my dad (he always watched the evening news on WCYB-5). I saw the violence reported of that terrible war, and I have worked with Veterans who are unable to forget it from a very personal point of view. Sometimes I can still close my eyes and remember war correspondents reporting, and I see those images of small children starving and dying, as well as men, women, and soldiers on all sides. I also remember that even in the midst of that violence, every Christmas Eve there was a cease-fire for 24 hours and there was Peace. During that early time in my life, the Peace of Advent was pressed upon me, the miracle that for a few hours we humans could resist hating and killing one another. I have always believed if we could do it then, if we could practice peace for 24 hours, then we can do it again.

I know this year has been hard on all of us! And perhaps in many ways it still is hard, but I implore you, I beg of us all, “Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.” Happy New Year!

Prayer

God of timeless grace, you fill us with joyful expectation. Make us ready for the message that prepares the way, that with uprightness of heart and holy joy we may eagerly await the kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.