by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Passionately Seeking Peace

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

As I’ve mentioned in other devotions, a trip out west isn’t worth it if I don’t get to spend time at the beach. Experiencing the ocean is hard to describe to a person who has not been there. Visiting the beach is a sensory experience. There is the smell of the salt air, the feel of the sand, the sight and the sound of the waves.

The waves are relentless, relentlessly relentless. Night and day they pound the rocks and sand. Even when the ocean is calm, it’s never truly calm.

What are you relentlessly relentless about?

Are you relentless about your family? Do you drop everything to see that your family is taken care of, that they are free from worry? Are you passionate about keeping your family together?

Are you relentless about your hobby? Do you sacrifice relationships so that you can do what you love to do? Are you passionate about growing deeper in the knowledge of this craft?

Are you relentless about video games? Do you surrender your time to the video console hoping that you might either beat the game itself or the other person you’re playing against?

Again, what are you relentlessly relentless about?

“Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
Psalm 34:14 English Standard Version

How many of us are relentless about seeking peace? We live in a time when we all want to be heard because we believe that if others think the way that we think everything would be okay in the world. But is that seeking peace? The psalmist’s command isn’t as easy as it seems.

What does it mean to seek peace?

Rather than give an academic answer, it’s best to look to Jesus to see the passion with which he pursued peace. He empty himself of heaven and took on our flesh. He gave up his privilege as the Son of God and died so that we might have peace with God.

Again I ask, what does it mean to seek peace? Ask Jesus.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado