ecpae

Sometimes peace feels scrambled up.  This morning seems to be one of those for me.  I can't always explain why some days start that way while others don't.  But no matter what the day, I try usually to start the day off with some time with God.  So today, in the midst of some house chaos, I prayed quickly, "Lord, give me something here."  Then I did one of those random flips through the pages of the Bible looking through my underlined and starred verses.  Within about a minute I came to this simple blessing at the end of Thessalonians: "May the Lord of peace himself always give you his peace no matter what happens.  The Lord be with you all." (2 Thess 3:16 NLT)

Amazing.  Thank you, Lord.  

I started reading the 15 verses that come before this verse and the 2 that come after.  Before: Paul asks the Thessalonians to pray for him and also to endure in a way of living that is faithful.  Then there is this other amazingly powerful blessing: "May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ." (2 Thess 3:5 NLT)

And then there is this challenge: "Settle down and get to work." (2 Thess 3:12 NLT)  It seems that some people were seeking an easier lifestyle by leeching off of fellow Christians.  Don't be lazy, Paul says.  Work.

Perhaps the three go together?  Is it just a coincidence that Paul finishes this letter this way?  Peace probably comes from being brought into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God… mixed with a long obedience in the same direction. 

Today for me, then, needs to be a day of unscrambling.  I don't want to leech off of God and be lazy, praying that I'll win some peace lottery.  No, I need to settle down and get to work; I need to live my life responsibly and faithfully today.  I also need to be growing ever deeper in the love of God; not settling for less, but settling down for more!  And I need to be enduring in work and in love for God through everything I do today.

May it be so, Lord.