‘When you enter a house, first say, "Peace to this house."'

Luke 10:5 NIV
The neighbours are holding big party, the music's pumping, (some tune from the last century) and it starting to sound like the maddest night of the year. People are going nuts; and probably sadly going to end up in a right state. But what are those people like the morning after? (If you're reading this and it's still before 10 o'clock you might want to sneak out and have a look) It is deathly quiet. There's hardly anyone around. It's probably the most peaceful morning you've enjoyed all year.
When Jesus sent out 72 of His followers to go and take the good news of salvation to the towns of Galilee He told them to find a ‘person of peace' and stay at their house, saying ‘Peace to this house'. But what did He mean? Did He just want the disciples to have a nice, quiet place to stay? Well, to understand what He meant we need a deeper understanding of the word ‘peace'. In Hebrew it is ‘shalom' which is a deep emotional word meaning ‘Nothing missing, nothing broken'. It is about wholeness, completeness, wellbeing. That's what Jesus was all about; bringing God's shalom to a broken and hurting world.
And just like He sent out the 72, He wants to send you too. Will you be one of His shalom-bringers this year?

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