God our Creator, who from eternity past has existed in perfect peace and unity within yourself, Father, Son, and Spirit, three-in-one without conflict, without injury, without hatred; where your eternal love, justice and holiness rule your existence.
We your children experience the violence of Sin in the world. We confess that our hearts are not free from hate. We recognize the ultimate root of conflict in this world is not politics, or economics, or race. Such “causes” are actually the symptoms of our collective selfishness and individual sinfulness. We confess that we have not allowed your perfect law of love to live in us.
You revealed your heart when you said we should “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us” (Matt. 5:44). You are the great reconciler who took on yourself the price for peace with your rebellious creations. You came into this fallen world and suffered all hatred and violence in weakness, overcoming evil with the sacrifice of yourself. You “became our peace” (Eph. 2:14) and tore the veil between us and yourself, and demolished the walls between us and our neighbours.
Father God, you are peace, so we pray for an end to war. We pray for the sanity of your Word and its call on each person and each nation to be transformed. We pray that where selfish interest and injustice have promoted the cheapening of life and the spread of violence that your Spirit of peace would heal and convict to change hearts. Change our spirit of “an eye for an eye” to the Spirit of Jesus that extends love even to our enemies.
May we be ambassadors of your heavenly kingdom. You said, “blessed are the peacemakers” for they will be called your children (Matt. 5:9). May every relationship, home, school, workplace and nation experience your peace as your Spirit fills your church. We look forward expectantly to the day when your peace reigns completely, when tanks are melted down to make tractors, when war is known no more.
The Spirit and your Church say “come” (Rev. 22:17). Come, our Prince of Peace. Amen.