A 'House of Peace'

 “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God…”  Gen 28:20

Jacob’s prayer and hope for peace within the family was well founded. The family dynamic he was running from would match any modern day fiasco we could read about today. A house divided, mother against father, brother against brother, inheritance disputes, manipulation, deception, lack of communication, hatred, and murderous threats all rolled in one chapter (Genesis 27).  The emotional turmoil of intimate relationships shattered and a heart hungry for peace is reflected in Jacob’s oath, “If God will be with me …so that I come again to my father’s house in peace…” And herein is his hope. On the run, Jacob met God in his dream and he made a commitment to follow God. He named the place of his meeting, Bethel – ‘House of God’. Perhaps a reflection of his desire for peace and an understanding that only in God’s house, under His authority and submission to Him, would he find a peaceful house –a home.

I have never known anything but a peaceful, loving family environment. The words ‘shut-up’ were never allowed to be used in our family. We had daily meals together. We had a daily time of prayer so routine that even our dog, Ginger, participated in the closing Lord’s prayer. The only thing I remember ‘catching’ my father at, was being on his knees in prayer at 5AM every morning.  But this great blessing has not isolated me from the fact that many others live in situations more like Jacob’s than my experience.  And so, while I may not be able to ‘emphasize’ with the ravenous hunger for ‘peace’ in life’s most intimate relationships, I can’t but help to hold up the hope expressed by Jacob for the peace that comes from being a part of God’s loving household.  A cry for  'peace' that vibrates throughout all of scripture and is finally and complete answered in Jesus:

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:13-21 [ESV])

Lord, thank you for the perfect peace you bring to my life. May I walk in your peace today. May others know your peace...because we are all in need of it....AMEN.

JESUS I COME...

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,

Jesus, I come to Thee;

Out of my sickness, into Thy health,

Out of my want and into Thy wealth,

Out of my sin and into Thyself,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,

Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,

Out of distress to jubilant psalm,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into Thy blessèd will to abide,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,

Out of despair into raptures above,

Upward for aye on wings like a dove,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into the joy and light of Thy throne,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the depths of ruin untold,

Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,

Ever Thy glorious face to behold,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Note: No one can find peace with family and others without first finding peace with God. You might have peaceful moments, but that's just a 'cease fire'.