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For unto us a Child is born; Unto us a Son is given. It is the truth that we celebrate on this day, the birth of the Savior, that has split history into two, whose Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. [Isaiah 9:6] Peace in the world could seem elusive right now, with wars, rumors of wars and natural calamities that cause disturbance and fear abounding. But in the midst of it all, and higher and greater than it all, stands this powerful truth – Lord Jesus is the Prince of peace. And a scriptural understanding of it will lead you to the truth of the inclusive nature of it, the wholeness that is peace or shalom. It involves prosperity, that is having all that you will need to accomplish God’s purpose for your life, success that is doing the will of God,harmony and blessing of God. And though the world may connect peace of mind with many factors, and attitudes,the truth speaks otherwise. For, it is connected to a Person – the Lord Jesus Christ. He came into the world to give peace , as the infant in the cradle, as the man on the Cross, and as the God upon the throne. And it could be absent even in the life of a christian today, only because he wants peace on his own terms, while Lord Jesus says ‘I am the Way’.
Peace, God’s way – the CROSS:
Peace can be your portion, because the punishment for your sin, that brought your peace, has been laid upon the Lord on the Cross of Calvary, and by His stripes you have been healed. And unless you receive the truth by faith, to apply it in your life, the lack of peace, for which the prime cause is always and ultimately sin, can never be addressed and removed. It also goes to explain the reason for sin still controlling so many in this world, even after the Lord’s finished work on Calvary, and the outworking of it in the evil that is prevalent in the society.
Peace – not a philosophy:
For, peace is not a philosophy; and unless Christ takes His rightful place in the heart of a person, true peace cannot be in him. He is the ‘peace child’, as the narrative of the missionary recounts, who lives forever, and gives you peace that you can experience truly and deeply all through your life. Christ in His love, has made peace available, freely and graciously. But one needs to come to the Cross to receive it, for it is where your relationship with God, one that was broken when Adam and Eve sinned, is restored to make godly peace possible in your life. For even as the warning of God comes through the prophet, depending on one’s own self,you can be led to a peace that is merely superficial, a bandaging of the wound that only gives an appearance of peace. It is what can happen when the root problem of sin is not dealt with, by Jesus taking His rightful place in you. [Jeremiah 6:14] Experiencing peace can descend to mere religious jargon then, and not the truth of God.
MY peace I give to you:
My peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [John 14:27] The world may give you cliches and rules that promise peace. But the Lord, in His own words has made the difference clear. It is knowing the truth, and the Son who sets you free.
HE HIMSELF is our peace:
It is by dealing with the core issue of sin through the Cross that God brings peace. Jesus was born into this world, was the baby in the crib, taking on flesh and blood, that He may die on the Cross, for without shedding of blood there can be no remission of sins. He has dealt with sin on Calvary, and today you can experience peace that is the result of it, as you receive Him as your Lord and Savior, to appropriate His perfect work of redemption in your life. And Christ Himself is your peace and mine, for now in Christ Jesus, we who were far off, have been brought near by the blood of Jesus. For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one, having broken down in His flesh, the dividing wall of hostility. [Ephesians 2:14] Therefore, you no longer need to be in a situation where anxieties come, and end up multiplying in your heart, and your soul is downcast. You can look to the Lord in His word, for help that brings peace in the midst of your storm, one that maybe has seen tears being your food, day and night, and you can affirm the hope with which the psalmist concludes. [Psalm 42 & 43] For, you can look to God, when your mind is asking questions that is making you lose your peace, and let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, to settle and establish you. And it comes to pass through His word, as looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of your faith, you believe and therefore you speak, in a faithful confession, that ultimately sees you declaring, Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. [Psalms 116:7]
But, peace that you may forfeit:
And the needless pain that you bear, as the familiar melody proclaims, is because, when anxious thoughts overwhelm your soul, the way in which it is overcome is by talking to God, concerning it in prayer, to hear and do what He says regarding it. It is how the peace that surpasses all understanding rules and reigns in your soul to guard it. As the apostle writes, Do not be anxious about anything; but with thankfulness and prayer, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God that passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:6]
He is a prayer answering God. And it is a godly patience that is required of you, if His answer seems to tarry, or remains the same. For, He will answer what you need to hear, and not what you like to hear, or in other words, a mere sanctioning of your action. And as you meditate upon His word, and persist in prayer more and more, the more you speak, and listen to Him, the more you will begin to speak like Him, and what He has spoken to you, will be upon your tongue, flowing naturally and easily from the depths of your heart. And the peace of Christ will rule in your life’s circumstances, that call for divine wisdom and strength when the Prince of Peace is in your heart, as the God upon His throne.
The proclamation of truth:
May the One who was born to be the Prince of Peace, the One who is the God of peace be with you, is the blessing of God that rests upon you. [Romans 15:33] It is the proclamation of truth, that the One who was born as the Prince of Peace, the One who Himself is your peace, is the One who causes peace to reign and rule in your heart. It is how you begin to experience peace in your life, for He will never leave you or forsake you. It is the ever abiding truth. And,peace is not the absence of danger, but the presence of God, who Himself is your peace. He is your Friend, so true and faithful, who will in all your sorrows share with understanding, as you take it to Him in prayer. In thankfulness therefore, may we pray, Father, We thank thee for giving us Your Son, who became flesh and blood, and is our merciful High Priest, who has known our every weakness, who suffered and has overcome, that we may now overcome, to experience the reason for the comfort and joy that we celebrate today. For to us a child is born; to us a Son is given. He is the Prince of Peace, speaking into every troubled heart here this day, dispensing peace through His word,and the assurance of His loving presence, that we may see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. And may it be the blessed portion of your people. In the Name of Christ Jesus Amen.
