by Elsa Houtz
“Peace on earth” is one of the many joyful themes of the Christmas season. But Lent offers its own gift of peace as well.
In our day-to-day lives, the awareness of our sin can easily corrode our sense of peace—knowing all the things we did that we wish we hadn’t….the things we should have done and didn’t….the unkind or angry or resentful thoughts we’ve allowed to fester in our minds. During Lent we are reminded of the grace and forgiveness that Jesus’ death made available to us. Because of Him, we don’t have to constantly replay our catalog of sins and let them destroy the peace God wants us to have.
When we choose to claim God’s promise of forgiveness through Christ’s death on the Cross, peace is ours for the asking.
Meditation:
Do I easily lose sight of the price Jesus paid for my sin, making it possible for me to experience real peace? Do I cling to the pain and guilt of my sins instead of accepting God’s forgiveness and grace through Christ?
Roman’s 5:1 (NLT)– Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.