This week in Advent we're supposed to focus on "Peace." Yes, God has a sense of humor because it seems to be the least peaceful week of the year. We have last minute shopping, cooking, cleaning, preparing for people to come to your house, having two parties in two days with everything closed on Christmas Day! STOP THE MADNESS!!!!
You know, it was pretty crazy times back when Jesus was born as well. There wasn't peace in the world. The Jewish people were ruled by the Romans. King Herod was so worried that a new king was born that he sent his soldiers out to kill any child under the age of two. He was terrified of being dethroned 20 years down the road. So if there wasn't peace then, and there isn't peace now, what kind of peace should we focus on this last week leading up to celebrating the coming of Jesus?
Christ brought us a different kind of peace than what we're used to. We see peace as no violence or war, but not God. He brought peace so we could face the violence. Earth is just our temporary home. It may seem long, but compared to eternity, it's a pebble next to a mountain. The peace Christ brings us is the knowledge that if we die for the faith, we'll be in paradise that very day. Christ gives us the strength to face our demons through the Holy Spirit. Peter was completely at peace when he was facing crucifixion for not denying Christ's resurrection, and told his executioner to flip his cross upside-down because he wasn't worthy to die the same way his Savior died for him. I want that peace.
You are loved by your Creator. He will do anything to have you reunited with him. Most religion is about man's search for God, but as the Bible points out, Christianity is all about God's search for us. He will leave 99 people in a second to find you. If that doesn't give you peace, nothing will.
Humility is putting others before yourself...but who would want to do that? Once or twice maybe, but always putting others before yourself means you're destined to be living in a van down by the river!!! Not exactly. When someone tells us to put others first, we hear that we need to drop ourselves to the bottom of our priorities. But what if rather than lowering ourselves, we raised everyone up?
Humility isn't thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. For example, rather than having that last piece of pizza, saving it for your friend who couldn't get to the party early enough. Or asking someone if they'd like a drink when entering your house. In basketball, if your teammate falls, you run over to pick him up. When someone is speaking, you actually listen to them rather than talking over them or playing on your phone. These are all examples of putting others before you without lowering yourself.
Putting other's first isn't exactly rocket science...but there is some science to it. "Feel good" chemicals like dopamine and endorphins are release into your brain when you care for another person. Yeah, God gives us rewards when helping others. God's pretty awesome like that. So the more you help others, the happier you will become. It doesn't mean doing sinful things for others, but simply seeing and caring for others as a child of God.
