Ya know that feeling you have deep in your gut when you get to spend time with someone special to you? Someone with whom there is no hint of angst in your relationship. Someone that brings a sense of warmth to your heart?
For some of you that is your parents. You have such an easy time talking with them. If the caller ID says their name, your heart feels a little sunnier.
For others it is your children. When you hear the sound of their voice it brings a sense of exhilaration to your spirit.
For still others it’s your wife or your husband. The sound of her voice or the sight of his face brings instant delight to your soul.
For a few of you there is one friend, somewhere in the world, who sends an email, or writes a letter. It is the first thing you open. It trumps all other, even more pressing issues.
Interesting, isn’t it, that in these descriptions are the Christmas feelings of hope, joy, and love?
But hope, joy, nor love can exist fully without peace. In any relationship, when there is a lack of peace, expectancy is replaced with anxiety. Pleasure is replaced with doldrums. And warmth is replaced with emptiness.
How about your relationship with Jesus? Do you open His word with anticipation? Is your ministry on behalf of our Master-turned-Servant filled with delight? When you pray, do you sometimes sit and simply enjoy the presence of your Savior? When we gather for worship, do you exchange moments of deep love with the Lover of our souls?
Consider how C. S. Lewis describes when the four children are first told about Aslan…
“At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund [who had been hanging out with the white witch] felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling when you wake up in the morning and realize it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer.”
And later… at the first encounter of all but Edmund with Aslan…
“His voice was deep and rich and somehow took the fidgets out of them. They now felt glad and quiet and it didn’t seem awkward to them to stand and say nothing.”
My friends, pursue Shalom this Christmas. And allow the Shalom of God to pursue you.
“He (Jesus) came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.” Ephesians 2:17
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