Apples of Gold

Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. Psalm 34:14

The polar vortex put a bit of a damper on our trip to Florida this year. My time at the beach has mostly been spent bundled in a winter jacket trying in vain to shield myself from the brutal wind. The violent surf has crushed most of the shells that have made their way to shore. A particularly shiny piece of a shell caught my eye and when I picked it up, I was surprised how smooth its surface was. The waves and wind, the sand and sun, being tossed around in the sea rubbed all the grooves off and left it so smooth that it almost feels soft.  As I held it between my fingers I noticed that something about that smooth texture was soothing.  I wondered what had happened to make it so smooth and shiny. Likely it wasn’t a gentle process, taking off the rough edges rarely is, but the peaceful “vibe” was endearing. 

I found a line from an old prayer inspired by the Beatitudes that was written by St. Francis of Assisi scrolling across my mind: 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.  

In a nation that is sharply divided, peace can be somewhat elusive. What brings peace and joy to some brings disappointment, fear and even anger to others. My Facebook feed following the election and inauguration starkly reflects this. Some are breathing a sigh of relief and rejoicing. Others are ready to leave the country and feel trapped. 

Compromising truth and morality are not an option for the follower of Jesus. We cannot rewrite the Bible in order to make people feel better about their choices. On the other hand, we cannot summarily dismiss these people either. The value of their souls far outweighs the discomfort of considering their eternal status and our responsibility to share the treasure we have found. 

God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. Matthew 5:5-9

Am I working for peace? The grooves and sharp edges of my demeanor have not been rubbed away. I can be harsh and inconsiderate of others at times. I have been known to react, rather than respond to having my toes stepped on. Failing to recognize an opportunity to have some of my jagged edges smoothed away, I quickly withdraw into my self-protected space. 

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17

Well, when we let them. Sometimes we don’t want to admit that we got it wrong. Sometimes we cling to a perceived sense of power and control, stubbornly refusing to recognize the wisdom being offered that might just spare us from oncoming heartache. 

As a follower of Jesus you recognize that the only true path to peace is found in surrendering your life to God-your whole life. So many around us are in desperate need of finding this peace. Oftentimes they are walking around with “church hurt” that keeps them in a posture of resistance to anything that resembles Christianity. 

Reaching them requires purposeful submission to the call of Jesus to hunger and thirst for justice and to show mercy. In order to do this those rough edges have got to go. 

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24

Seeing those offensive things in our hearts is only part of the battle. Once they have been revealed we need to tackle them head on. 

But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me-now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Psalm 51:6-10

The tumultuous journey required to prepare us to bring peace to others is long and arduous. There are times we would rather step out of the process and retain some of our ridges instead of submitting to the refining fire. May God grant us the courage to trust him and the resolve to remain humble and desperate to reach those who do not know him. 

I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, These are my people, and they will say, The LORD is our God. Zechariah 13:9