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So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

John 20:21, LSB

As followers of Christ, we are a people sent out. There is nothing private about the Christian faith. Our Lord has given us a commission to baptize and teach the faith. It is important, however, not to lose sight of the first part of this commission which begins with the word peace. We are sent out to carry with us the peace of our Lord. Like a horse being led to water, we cannot force a person to believe any more than we could force the horse to drink. We are meant to share and offer forgiveness where forgiveness is sought and bind that which another wishes to retain. If another does not believe what they are doing is wrong even after talking with them, we can only bind that to them until such a time they are ready to repent. This is not judgment because we are not the arbiter of judgment, we are carriers of the Gospel. A rejection of our Lord and His Word is bound upon the one who rejects Him. We desire to reveal Him and His promises, but it is He who will bring them salvation or, in their rejection of Him, will condemn themselves. Our prayer is not for this, but to bring all to know His truth and come to live in His peace.

Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.