Seeds of justice and peace
The 6th Day of Christmas
Everybody here will see that the Lord doesn’t need swords or spears to save his people. ~ 1 Samuel 17:47 (CEV)
Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts. ~ James 3:18 (CEB)
KEY THOUGHT:
God's justice is counter-intuitive because it comes through peaceful action.
PRAYER:
Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace. I confess, though, that I give into the temptation to set things right through power and control -- sometimes violent words or actions -- all of which feels justified given the situation. Help me to see how I can make things right by sowing seeds of peace. I need some guidance in adopting this counter-intuitive approach. I'm looking forward to real change -- starting with what you are going to do with me. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
