by Rev Douglas Brauner

Embracing the peace that comes through Christ

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1 English Standard Version

I didn’t grow up with white Christmases. They were wet, but of the rainy variety. In fact, it didn’t snow much in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Although, we did have one year where we had a three foot snow storm. If we would have had white Christmases, this picture is how I would have imagine it to look.

A white Christmas is a picture of peace. Everything is right with the world in a Christmas covered with snow. Family members have long conversations spiced with laughter. The pets sleep next to each other. Wars stop.

However, that is not the world in which we live. Wars rage, animals fight, and family members don’t talk with each other.

The writer to the Hebrews pictures this life as a race and he encourages us to run this race with endurance. We pray for moments of peace in the midst of this race, but it’s still a race and running a race is difficult. This time of year we look to Jesus, the baby who is born for us, who ran the race to the cross because of the joy that was set before him. His joy was knowing that when he finished the race he would give us the gift of eternal life.

It’s not wrong to long for peace as pictured in a white Christmas. However, whatever our state in life, may we look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who not only endured a manger, but a cross for us.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado