Micah 5:5 And he will be our peace.

For once I really don’t care for the Japanese translation, but I really like the English! The Japanese says, “Peace will come in the following way.” What is inspiring about that? However, saying that the Messiah Himself will be our peace really resonates. I don’t know Hebrew at all, so I need to check with a family friend who has his PhD in Hebrew to check on whether this is an issue of translation or of which manuscript is being followed. The English version agrees completely with something Jesus famously said in His Upper Room Discourse: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) Inner peace is a precious commodity indeed, and there is no truer source of it than Jesus the Messiah. It is unquestionable that this passage from Micah is Messianic, since even the scribes whom Herod consulted quoted it to say that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. (Matthew 2:4-6) They knew that as academic fact, but they didn’t care about it enough to go and seek Him out for themselves when Magi from the east came looking for Him! Whatever peace they had was counterfeit, and that is a problem even today. People settle on all sorts of things to give them peace of mind, but anything less than a personal relationship with the Son of God who died to give them life will ultimately prove to be an illusion. When we are stirred up from circumstances in the world, we need to remember that Christ Himself is our peace, and just let Him fill us more and more with His Spirit.

This is something I’ve experienced countless times, but I still need to be reminded of. I too get distracted by what is going on around me, or even in me physically, and take my eyes off of Jesus. I need to do as it says in Hebrews: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2) I can’t “run with perseverance” without God’s peace, which Paul rightly said is beyond human understanding. (Philippians 4:7) I need to let God’s peace in me be a magnet to draw those around me to repentance and faith for their own salvation, so that they too may know that peace.

Father, at times I’m not very consistent in displaying Your peace. Help me shake off the distractions and focus in on my Lord so that Your peace may indeed fill me and radiate from me, for the salvation of others and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!